| £80m Youth Funding for London Boroughs |
| Sunday, 13 April 2008 | |
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It would be a wasted opportunity if at least some of this £80m was not spent on some high quality skatepark provision across London...contact your council and ask them to build a quality concrete skatepark with some of the money
Press Release Every London borough to benefit from £79 million youth funding Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone and Minister for Children, Young People and Families, Beverley Hughes MP, today announced a £79 million funding package for young Londoners and how this investment will benefit each of London’s 33 local authorities. In September 2007 the Mayor and Government announced initial proposals for a £60 million package of measures, ‘The London Youth Offer’ to provide more activities and services for young people in the capital. £20 million will come from the Mayor’s London Development Agency and £40 million was to come from the Department for Children, Schools and Families. The Mayor today welcomed the announcement of an extra £19 million from Department for Children, Schools and Families for the London Youth Offer, building on the £40 million the Department had already pledged and taking the overall funding to £79 million. Allocations to all London Boroughs are being made by both the Mayor and the Department for Children, Schools and Families. The Mayor will also be creating an Innovation and Development Fund of up to £6 million to encourage groups and individuals to improve the services available to young Londoners. Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone said: “This £79 million funding will provide real alternatives to life on the streets, giving young Londoners more places to go and things to do. ‘Just as we have invested in public transport and put police back on the streets, this funding will begin to reverse the decline of facilities for young people in the capital. ‘It is vital that every young Londoner is given the chance to fulfill their potential and this investment will give children and teenagers from London’s poorest estates and communities right across the capital opportunities to learn new skills through training, sports and cultural activities.” Minister for Children, Young People and Families, Beverley Hughes MP, “We want all young people to have the opportunity to take part in positive activities, which are not only fun, but can boost young people’s confidence and consequently their chances of doing well in life. “That is why I am pleased to announce an additional £19 million for The London Youth Offer, building on the £40 million that we have already pledged. “Putting spending power in the hands of young people helps them to fulfil their potential, whatever their background. This is a great opportunity to celebrate and nurture the achievements of young people and those who work with them.” Chief Executive of the London Development Agency, Manny Lewis, said: "I am delighted that we – the London Development Agency – have been able to respond to the needs of London’s young people. We want to help develop their skills, build upon their career aspirations and, in time, help them play an active part and share in London’s success." Anne Longfield OBE, Chief Executive of national children’s charity 4Children said: "The Mayor’s announcement of this reshaped and increased funding has the potential to totally re-imagine services aimed at young people in London. In too many local areas young people feel like they don't have enough things to do and places to go. Services aimed at young people can turn lives around - giving teenagers new opportunities to build skills, to become active and to get support from inspirational adults. Through providing a new range of services the Mayor’s programme has the potential to give young people in the capital new opportunities and life chances whilst transforming communities." The London Youth Offer will run over two years from 2008 to 2010. £20 million funding will come from the Mayor’s London Development Agency, £14 million of which has been allocated to London boroughs today. The remaining £6 million of the Mayor’s funding package will be set aside for an Innovation and Development Fund to encourage pan- London, cross- borough or pilot initiatives by groups and individuals.
Funding for London Boroughs from Department for Children, Schools and Families and London Development Agency combined: |
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| Last Updated ( Sunday, 13 April 2008 ) |