Fears for children in 'left behind' Birmingham area amid concerns over future of youth service

Birmingham City Council has been issued a warning over new proposals for the youth service

Birmingham City Council has been warned that young people in “forgotten” Druids Heath could pay the price if youth services are slashed. The Save Birmingham Youth Service campaign group said recently on social media that new proposals could see the loss of 44 jobs - leaving just 23 staff serving the city's children and young people.

A review of the Labour-run council’s youth service was launched earlier this year after the local authority became engulfed by a financial crisis and passed through an unprecedented budget in March. Sue Harrison, strategic director for children and families, has now confirmed that consultation has commenced on a “redesign” of the service.

She added that they appreciate that “any meeting where staff reductions are proposed” can be difficult for staff. The fate of youth centres across the city also remains uncertain at this stage.

READ MORE: I visited 'forgotten' Birmingham estate and I now understand why it is being saved

But according to a business case document on the service redesign, the council plans to retain an element of “youth specific physical space”, creating a safe space and consistency for young people. “This will be presented in a separate business case when the work has concluded,” it continued.

Green Party councillor Julien Pritchard has condemned the Labour administration over the reported new proposals, arguing the impact could be felt by young people across the city - and particularly in his ward of Druids Heath. "The council talks about regenerating Druids Heath,” he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

“This should mean investing in its young people and their future, not slashing more services from the area. Young people and communities will suffer from these council cuts through no fault of their own.”

He went on to describe Maypole Youth Centre in Druids Heath as “absolutely vital” to young people locally. "Somewhere that's been as forgotten and left behind as Druids Heath can't also lose a youth centre,” Cllr Pritchard said.

"If anywhere needs a youth centre it's Druids Heath". The leader of the Liberal Democrats at the council, Cllr Roger Harmer, also responded to the new proposals by saying youth services provide a “crucial line of defence and support”.

“Youth clubs offer a crucial space for young people to connect, share ideas and develop,” he said. “They offer a sense of belonging, which is particularly important in the teenage years.

“Trained youth workers are often able to connect with children in a way that teachers in a more formal setting cannot do. Youth services can offer opportunities such as sports clubs, Duke of Edinburgh awards, amateur dramatics and a range of other activities that inspire and build a generation,” he continued.

“They are an antidote to boredom, and in some parts of the city, a vital alternative to gang life.”

What Birmingham City Council has said

Sue Harrison said the redesign of the council’s youth service is aimed at creating a “service model that is sustainable and provides a consistent approach to youth services across the city that is more aligned with other services working with young people”.

“We appreciate that any meeting where staff reductions are proposed can be difficult for staff,” she added. “We have signposted support from managers as well as the council’s Employee Assistance Programme, for those who wish to take it up.

“Every member of staff will be invited to a one-to-one discussion as part of the consultation process.”

Cllr Jayne Francis, the cabinet member for housing and homelessness, said this year that the regeneration masterplan for Druids Heath would transform the estate into a “healthier, more sustainable area” by building on its key strengths - its community spirit and abundance of green space. She added the scheme would go beyond delivering new homes and allow anyone who lives there to thrive.

Birmingham: A Child Poverty Emergency

Child poverty is soaring in Birmingham and without urgent change, will only get worse. Having worked with charities and community groups, BirminghamLive is campaigning for the following changes to start to turn the tide:

1. End the two-child benefit cap
2. Provide free school meals to every child in poverty
3. Create a city “aid bank” for baby and child essentials
4. Protect children’s and youth services
5. Create permanent, multi year Household Support Fund and give more Discretionary Housing grants
6. Set up child health and wellbeing hubs in our most deprived neighbourhoods
7. Appoint a Birmingham child poverty tsar
8. Provide free public travel for young people

You can see why in more detail here.

Read our full report Birmingham: A Child Poverty Emergency here.

What you can do to help.

The city council passed an array of proposed cuts earlier this year after facing Birmingham-specific issues, such as an equal pay fiasco and the disastrous implementation of a new IT and finance system, as well as other factors such as the rising demand for services and funding cuts. Council leader John Cotton has pointed to “14 years of neglect from the previous Tory government" while Conservative politicians have highlighted the mistakes made by the council's Labour administration.

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