FURTHER cuts are set to be made to voluntary sector funding much to the disappointment of county youth clubs leaders.
More than £500,000 could be slashed from the budget over the next four years if the proposal goes ahead – a cut of around 25 per cent.
The last funding cuts by Warwickshire Country Council took place between 2011 and 2012 and amounted to nearly £1 million.
Chair of Warwickshire Association of Youth Clubs (WAYC), Chris Cox said: “I recently saw the proposal put forward by the county council portfolio holder for environment, setting out the future shape of the agreement. The document is a disappointment on a number of fronts and the cut will impact on the work all the voluntary sector organisations can deliver within Warwickshire.”
WAYC is concerned there is no ring fencing for work with young people and say cuts to funding would dramatically affect them.
The association actually uses some of its £20,000 from the council to prepare funding applications to secure further cash.
Mr Cox said: “By not ring fencing this money, the proposal is effectively another cut to young people’s services within the county.
“Voluntary youth clubs are just about the only youth work provision left in Warwickshire after county councillors slashed its statutory spending on youth work by 56 per cent, one of the biggest cuts to the youth service throughout the UK.
“Most of its youth clubs have subsequently closed, as it is difficult to find volunteers willing to take on the task. While I agree with the need for efficiency savings the voluntary sector has suffered disproportionate cuts over the last five years as austerity took hold.”
The county council had not responded to our request for a comment at the time of going to press.
