by political editor Paul Francis

A charity that provides advice on careers and benefits to hundreds of young people in Kent is facing a £2m cut in its budget.

Kent County Council is to cut the money from the budget for the Maidstone-based Connexions service in a move that may lead to job losses and limit some of the work it does.

The budget cut has already come under fire from opposition parties at County Hall.

They say it will hit some of the county’s most vulnerable young people.

A letter from out-going Connexions chief executive Gordon Bernard to staff last week setting out he budget plans says: "It is clear that we will be able to achieve less in future because of this reduction.

"Since we are a service which has always put most of our funding into front line staff; any staff loss will have a real impact."

The Connexions service, which employs nearly 350 people, is expected to see funding cut from £12.4m to £10.4m next year, the equivalent of 16 per cent.

Although the charity believes it can minimise job losses, it says it cannot rule out compulsory redundancies.

In a statement, the charity said the budget settlement could have been worse.

Mary Gordon, the chair of Connexions Kent & Medway Partnership Board, said: "This is a better proposal than we had expected from Kent County Council which we know recognises our achievements in making a real difference to Kent’s young people."

Discussions were continuing with KCC about services, she added.

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Connexions offers advice on a range of services to 13-to-19-year-olds and to youngsters with learning difficulties up to the age of 25.

It employs personal advisers working at 11 offices spread throughout the county, providing youngsters with one-to-one support on education, careers, health, money and benefits.

Cllr Sarah Hohler, KCC cabinet member for children, families and education, said: "KCC, as with every local authority, faces reduced funding over the coming years.

"Discussions have begun between Connexions and the council about the future funding of the service.

"It is expected there will be some reduction in funding from 2011.

"Both Kent County Council and Connexions will be seeking, where possible, to preserve continuity of services and to maintain the best possible outcomes for Kent’s young people."

Opposition Labour group leader Cllr Les Christie said: "I am most cocnerned that this cut will hit the most needy at a time when everyone is saying that the vulnerable must be protected.

"This is clearly not the case here."