Funding slash leaves at-risk young in cold

Taken from the Ham&High (Hampstead & Highgate Express) 10 April 2008. Written by Marc Mullen.

'Outstanding' arts project forced to close it's doors.

Hundreds of disadvantaged youngsters have been left without vital support after Camden Council refused funding for an arts project at Hampstead Town Hall. Holiday programmes for children with criminal problems or drug or alcohol issues have been run from the Haverstock Hill venue for 20 years. But last week the council told WAC, which runs the courses, that it would not be granting the £30,000 needed to integrate the children into mainstream courses. Last summer 500 vulnerable youngsters took part in the Camden Summer University (CSU) and other activities.
"Last year the OFSTED inspection said the quality of our provision was outstanding and we have never had an empty place on any of our courses. We always have a waiting list," said Celia Greenwood, acting joint chief executive of WAC. "When these youths don't have their peers around them they have the chance to reinvent themselves. But this summer they won't have that chance and will be bored and end up just hanging around. This is not about who got funding and who didn't. It is about the provision of activities across Camden for our young people."

The WAC courses put youths through mainstream courses in dance, music and video, giving them the chance to achieve a qualification from the Oxford School of Coaching and Mentoring.

Leon Dores, 22, first attended a WAC summer course 15 years ago and now teaches music to youngsters at the town hall venue. He said: "The programme is mainly aimed at young people who are struggling with their schooling. The aim is to get them back on track and help them through to a qualification. It was great for me. It gave me a reason to get up for something positive and gave me something to strive for. Now helping others is very rewarding for me, helping to try to change people for the better."

Last year the council changed the way it funds programmes. Instead of receiving financing in three-year blocks, programmes are commissioned each year. The council has given out £450,000 for youth activity in the voluntary sector, but says it received applications from 22 groups for a total of £937,631.

A council spokesman said: "It's always extremely difficult deciding which groups receive funding and how much each group receives. This has become increasingly difficult due to the national drive for increased accountability in youth services - there are numerous national criteria which projects have to meet to be eligible for the money."

The Winchester Project on Winchester Road (known as the Winch), which targets children with similar backgrounds, will receive funding for its sports programme this year - after it was slashed 12 months ago.

Lisa Barnes, the Winch project director said: "I have a great deal of sympathy for WAC. Previously funding was for three years, which meant you could plan and maintain your projects. Now you are funded year-to-year and finding out this late means you can only kick-start the summer programme now. The voluntary sector is finding it very difficult in the current climate."