MP Welcomes £500,000 Budget For Young People

13 March 2006

Emily Thornberry MP has welcomed a Government initiative giving young people in Islington the chance to decide how to spend an extra £500,000 of funding for youth services over the next two years. She has appealed to young people to get in touch with her about their ideas on how the money should be spent.

Emily said:
“It’s great that the Government is giving extra funding to youth services in Islington, and even more exciting that the kids themselves will be deciding how it’s spent. After all the cuts in funding for youth services by the Lib Dem Council, it’s a welcome boost for young people in our borough. I want young people to let me know how they think the money should be spent”

The new funds, the Youth Opportunity Fund and the Youth Capital Fund, are intended to boost youth activities and facilities in Islington, as well as giving young people control and influence over what happens in their neighbourhood. The funds will be managed by local authorities, but young people will be given a central role as decision makers and project leaders.

Editors’ Notes:
1. Allocations have been announced by Beverly Hughes MP, Minister of State for Children, Young People and Families. For the 2006-08 period, the allocations for Islington are:
a. Youth Opportunity Fund: £272,706
b. Youth Capital Fund: £235,869