Youth service warns against impact of cuts

A NORTHSIDE youth service has warned against the Government making cuts to its funding.

Sphere 17 Regional Youth Service, which has three centres in Darndale, Coolock and Priorswood, had its funding cut by 5 per cent in 2012, 10 per cent in 2013 and is facing the prospect of a further 5 per cent cut in 2014.

Mick Ferron, manager at Sphere 17, said that following years of successive cuts they were now at a point where it was impacting on service provision.

“While the cut this year was 10 per cent, when it was announced there was a cut in weekly planned programmes and activities by 23 per cent,

? Mr Ferron told Northside People.

“This is primarily due to absorbing the cuts in previous years and no longer having any flexibility to isolate the impact on front line service provision.

“The centre closures and curtailments of programme activities have meant that we have had to inform young people that their group or activity can no longer go ahead as planned or at all.

“In some cases volunteers can also no longer be facilitated to work with young people on nights where they have made themselves available.

“I believe that there will be upwards of 300 less young people engaged by their youth service this year.

?

Mr Ferron said there was every possibility that some young people who are unable to access youth supports may fall victim to circumstances that will

“negatively impact their health and welfare

?.

“Sphere 17 can often be the first point of contact for distressed young people, and we feel we are uniquely positioned to act as a meaningful support to them,

? he stated.

“That this opportunity for support to so many young people will be compromised, as a direct result of funding cuts, is what is of most concern to Sphere 17.

“There is consensus among various national and international studies and reports, that funding interventions such as youth work and youth service provision, which focus on prevention, not only deliver more meaningful outcomes for young people and communities, but also save the central exchequer in the long run in terms of other public service expenditure.

“Even with a cold economic eye on the issue, supporting the existing, proven youth service infrastructure now, when considered against increased investment that will be required in areas such as health, justice and welfare in the future, makes sound fiscal logic.

?

Mr Ferron urged local politicians to recognise the increasing vulnerability of young people, and realise the ongoing potential of youth work to effectively address a whole range of issues for them.

“This can be done in the first instance by redressing the disproportionate level of funding cuts to the youth sector as a whole, and to Dublin 17 in particular,

? he added.

In 2012, Sphere 17 provided over 150 structured health, educational, recreational and personal development programmes/activities to nearly 1,300 young people.

Young people also sought support and information on a wide range of issues related to teen pregnancy, violent relationships, school refusal/exclusion, personal/family debt, impact of criminality, self-harm and suicide, alcohol/drug affected behaviour, safety and personal health.

Dublin North East TD Tommy Broughan (Lab) has demanded an end to cutbacks to youth services including

“outstanding

? local youth organisations such as Sphere 17.

Deputy Broughan said it was particularly important that there was no further reduction of services given their

“grave importance

? in deterring young people from getting involved in anti-social activity and potential criminality.

In a reply to a recent parliamentary question from Deputy Broughan, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald, said funding of some e53.173 million was available in 2013 to support the provision of youth services and programmes to young people throughout the country.

“The savings required under the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure in respect of 2013 amounted to e5.393 million, in the main, in respect of staff-led youth projects/services,

? she stated.

In relation to Sphere 17, Minister Fitzgerald said funding of e788,838 has been allocated to the service in 2013 under a number of schemes including the Special Projects for Youth Scheme (SPY), Young People’s Facilities and Services Fund Rounds 1 and 2 (YPFSF) and the Local Drug Task Force (LDTF).

?