Protesters have gathered in a town centre to voice their anger over proposed cuts to youth services across the county.

Armed with placards and banners they have gathered outside Kent County Council offices at County Hall in Maidstone.

Councillors gathered for a cabinet meeting this morning at 10am where the finance of the council were discussed.

The disruption comes after KentOnline reported the plans to cut the funding of 80 youth groups would leave 8,000 young people “with nowhere to go”.

KCC hopes to save £900,000 a year from its budget by cutting the funding to Youth Commissioned Services, in an attempt to shave £58 million off its budget by February.

As part of the council’s cost-saving measures, 35 children's centres face closure in the restructuring of community services.

Macy Oshea, 17, Gravesend part of GYG youth group. She said: "we are protesting today to keep our clubs open and to tell people that we are the future. They don't care and would rather spend money on building houses."

"We will have nowhere to go and no-one who will be able to listen to us. They make you feel like your not alone and are somewhere to get your mind off of your problems."

"There are lots of kids who don't have loving families who care and are understanding so the family hubs wouldn't work. I wouldn't go to one as youth groups are about being with people your own age."

Currently, a wide range of services are covered for children and young adults which the chief executive of Swale's The Brogdale CIC Group, Rebecca O’Neill, says is “supporting families during the cost-of-living crisis”.

She added: “The facts are the groups are affordable means there is a place where they can go and have their tea time meal or food with us.

“It’s somewhere where they can get their needs met in other areas when their families are finding it difficult to provide some of these services.”

The council will look to meet its statutory needs requirement – a list of legal duties set out by the government – by implementing the national “family hub” model, which is under consultation.

These would bring together different services for the entire family in one building.

The plans went out to public consultation last month, and people have until Wednesday, September 13, to share their views.

You can look at the the consultation proposals here.

KCC’s cabinet member for integrated children’s services, Sue Chandler, has encouraged young people and their families to engage in the consultation.

She said: “We will continue to provide KCC services for young people and their families, which would remain a mix of activity within KCC centres and outreach locations.

“We will also continue to develop community-based youth work by supporting existing local volunteer-led groups. We will develop services specifically for families of young people, targeting where there is greatest need.

“We would encourage young people and families that might be affected by this proposal to take part in our family hubs consultation so that we can understand their views on what the proposed changes would mean.”