by Paul Francis

prancis@thekmgroup.co.uk

A far-reaching shake-up of youth services is expected to result in wide-ranging job losses, the possible closure of 12 youth centres and the ending of funding for 27 projects.

Kent County Council has unveiled proposals that would mean it would no longer directly be involved running youth services that are available to 131,000 young people between 13 and 19.

Instead, the private sector and other voluntary groups and charities will be invited to bid to take over virtually all of its existing services.

Youth centres that may close or be handed over to other organisations under KCC’s shake-up include two in Gravesham – Miracles Youth Centre and The Gr@nd – and The Bridge Youth Arts Centre, Dartford.

The re-organisation will save about £1 million but will mean that the county council will have just one youth centre acting as a “hub” in each of the 12 districts across Kent. These would act as a focal point for providing services across each area.

Currently, youth work takes place at more than 90 different locations, although activities are not confined to youth centres but include street-based projects, school work and community tutors.

Centres that are no longer required or are not taken over by other providers face being sold off. They include one that has not even been formally opened yet.

In a report setting out its plans for what it describes as a commissioning model, KCC acknowledges there is a risk services may no longer be provided on the same scale or to the same quality as now.

Each of Kent’s districts will have a centrally located youth hub, at least one community youth tutor, one street-based project and various commissioned youth work.

However, support KCC provides through grants to 24 youth clubs and street-based projects is to be withdrawn.

KCC’s report states: “It is unknown at this stage how many newly commissioned projects will replace those no longer delivered directly [after] consultation.”

One in four jobs are to go, with 64 staff facing redundancy and a further 60 who work on specific projects also under threat.

Cllr Mike Hill, KCC cabinet member for communities, said: “These proposals are intended to transform the way we deliver services to young people so that we can continue to provide a first-class service despite the severe financial pressures we all face.

"We will carry out a consultation with the public to ask their views before any formal decisions are taken and the first stage is for these plans to be discussed by the cabinet on Monday.”

Unison Kent branch secretary David Lloyd said: “We do not want to see these services outsourced and go elsewhere. The services the youth services deliver, especially to vulnerable people, is crucial.”