CUTS to youth and community services funding in Kenilworth have prompted anger.
The Kenilworth Centre has received £120,000 in funding from the town council since 2012 but future funding will stop from April.
The Kenilworth Centre charity was formed in 2011 following county-wide cuts to youth services. Based in Abbey End car park it runs both youth and community services in the town.
The charity is now being urged to apply for annual funding from the Conservative-run council, which leader John Cooke believes will be more beneficial in the long term.
He told the Observer: “It was quite clear from our discussions with the Kenilworth Centre and after reviewing their business plan that even with continued funding of £30,000 each year the centre would continue to make losses with the current style of management.
“The council was also particularly concerned how little youth work was being done in the centre which was its principle reason for funding it in the first place.
“The council felt however, that it’s outreach work was to be encouraged and therefore agreed to invite an application for up to £7,500 so that it could be significantly expanded to cover holiday periods as well as term times.”
But Liberal Democrat councillor Kate Dickson fears the funding cut will prevent the possibility of extending services into school holidays.
She said:”As there will be an enormous reduction in funding as a result of the cut of £30,000, it is hard to see how a grant of £7,500 would be able to support the centre so that it can grow its work.”
Trustees of the charity will still have use of the property rent free and will be able to apply for the funding each year.
