Spending Review
Warning about the impacts of the cuts outlined in the Government’s spending review, young people’s charity Catch 22 points to the cumulative effects on young people
Alan Booth, Director Of Communications, says, “The Government stated that it did not want future generations to pay for the mistakes of the current one, however, looking at these cuts it is hard to see how they will not be.
"We all knew the cuts would be deep but the Government seems to have ignored some of the most vulnerable young people.
“The announced cuts to local authority budgets will have a deep impact on our local services, the young people we work with and the communities they live in.
"Decisions such as the reduction in the provision of social housing and the pinning of council rents to market values will further extend the gulf between some of the most disadvantaged young people, who now haven’t a hope of getting their own home, and the rest of society.”
In a recent survey, conducted among 16 to 25-year-olds, Catch22 found that almost 30% of young people cited providing affordable housing as a priority.
Alan Booth adds
“Young people want to be independent adults with a job, a home and a stable future. Now, those who are already most likely to struggle - the poorest, those leaving care and those from chaotic backgrounds will now face having their help cut off when they need it the most.”
Catch22 is a local charity with a national reach. We work in over 150 towns and cities, with tens of thousands of young people every year supporting young people with tough lives who are facing difficult situations who may have had tough upbringings or are living in difficult neighbourhoods.
Our programmes help to develop confidence and skills to grasp solutions that are right; from getting back into school or into training, choosing to stay out of crime, finding a safe place to live and helping with the skills needed to live independently after leaving care or custody.
IMAGE: Ren Ehrhardt