Young people will tell MPs to call time on youth service cuts

21 October 2011

Choose Youth lobby of parliament and rally

WHEN: Tuesday, 25 October, 11.30am – 4pm
WHERE: Methodist Central Hall, Westminster, SW1 9NH

At least 1,000 young people will take their fight to save the youth service from the government's wrecking ball of cuts to parliament on Tuesday 25 October, in an unprecedented day of action organised by Choose Youth.

Unite, Unison and its Choose Youth partners, warn that services for young people will be the first publically-funded service to be wiped out altogether in the face of disproportionately large funding cuts.

In what promises to be the biggest event of its kind, more than 1,000 people will take part in a diverse range of activities from banner making to campaign and lobbying workshops, culminating in a mass silent disco outside the Houses of Parliament.

The day is geared around getting young people and all those with a stake in young people's services to meet with their MPs.

Media are invited to attend the day, which will see a diverse programme of speakers. There is also the opportunity to speak to young people travelling from across the UK, including Devon, Wales, Birmingham and further afield.

Len McCluskey, Unite general secretary, who will be speaking on the day, said: “What this government is doing to our young people is nothing short of scandalous. One million young people without work, tuition fees trebled, the Education Maintenance Allowance axed - a litany of misery made worse by the demolition of the services which provide the support they need to overcome these challenges.

“This is not a caring and sharing government, this is a government that sees young people as a soft target. Young people need more- not less – support to feel they have a future stake in our society.”

Keith Sonnet, Unison deputy general secretary, who will be speaking at the event, said: “Young people are being forced to bear the brunt of the government's cuts. Youth services are vital at a time of record youth unemployment and the rising cost of education.

“Those in the most disadvantaged communities, who need the most support, are being hit the hardest. The future success of the country depends on young people. We need urgent action to prevent a lost generation struggling to afford qualifications, or to find work.”

Choose Youth is an alliance of over 30 national youth sector organisations and trade unions, including Unite.

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