- Sadiq boosts 36 projects delivering programme of activities for young Londoners, including those most at risk of getting caught up in crime
- Almost 10,000 at-risk young Londoners to benefit from latest phase of £45m Young Londoners Fund
- London has lost 81 youth centres and 800 full time youth workers as a result of £39m of Government cuts to youth services since 2011*
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, is today investing £2.6million in 36 projects across the capital, providing almost 10,000 young Londoners with positive life opportunities.
Sadiq launched the £45m Young Londoners Fund earlier this year to support community groups, charities, youth centres and schools providing much-needed positive events, activities and opportunities for young people in the capital.
The fund is part of a package of measures aimed at encouraging young people to get off the streets and to make the right choices and, for some, diverting them away from criminality and anti-social behaviour.
The Mayor will be investing in projects over the course of the coming months. Today’s announcement will benefit 9,950 young Londoners through 36 London schemes, including everything from theatre groups and employability training to football clubs and art sessions.
It follows an investment of £750,000 made in July to 15 schools to provide safe, positive summer activities and ongoing support for more than 2,000 of the most vulnerable young Londoners.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Crippling government cuts, begun by George Osborne in 2010 and continued by Theresa May, to local authorities, youth services and policing have led to a rise in violent crime. Cuts really do have consequences.
“In response, I have established the Young Londoners Fund as a key part of my long-term approach to tackling knife and violent crime in the capital. By investing in projects, and young people, that are dedicated to giving young Londoners an opportunity to get involved in positive activities, we can work to help every child and teenager at risk off the streets, and away from the dangers of crime.
“The projects we’ve invested in are already making a difference to young people in London and this next phase of the £45m programme, backed up by £2.6m of City Hall investment, will help provide valuable life opportunities for almost 10,000 young Londoners.”
