by business editor Trevor Sturgess

Two youth charities are joining forces with a pledge to boost services for the young.

CXK - formerly known as Connexions - and KCFN (Kent Children's Fund Network) are merging to create a £14 million organisation.

It will be in a stronger position to bid for contracts after the loss of considerable public funding in recent years.

Sean Kearns, chief executive of CXK, said: "Our sector has faced major challenges, with many of our funders seeing their budgets cut, increased pressure to achieve more for less and a move toward larger-scale contracts- making it difficult for small organisations to compete. The merger helps overcome these challenges."

CXK and KCFN have been working together for several years. KCFN helps
youngsters up to the age of 12, often in vulnerable families.

CXK supports young people over this age, especially helping them find ways
into work at a time of high youth unemployment, raising their aspirations and developing their potential.

CXK chairman David Philpott said: "We've had to find different ways of doing business. We can provide a much better service as a holistic, unified organisation."

KCFN chief executive Stephen Bell, who will head up business development in the merged charity, said: "We are coming at this from a position of strength.

"Rather than wait until we might have been struggling on our own, we said the future is much more about collaborative partnership, so let's take that brave step now."

While CXK's turnover is £12million and KCFN's £2m, it was "a merger of equals. KCFN is a small charity with big ambitions. We have always punched above our weight and grown four-fold in four years."

Mr Kearns, chief executive of the merged organisation, said the move would save overheads so that more money could be invested where it was needed.

It would also make it more nimble. "Young people and their families are the beneficiaries."

Tamanna Miah, 19, from Sevenoaks, is a CXK trustee. She said the organisation encouraged youth involvement in shaping policy and decisions.

"I really like the idea of this merging - they've both got different qualities. Youth unemployment is a key issue and CXK helps with CVs and finding jobs."

At a launch ceremony in Ashford International Hotel, young people went on stage to showcase both organisations' work and question the respective chief executives.