A West Belfast youth worker has said planned cuts to youth centres are "callous and cruel" and warned that it will have a detrimental impact on young people.
That's despite the EA's own assessment of the Divis and Lower Falls area stating that there are a number of "social issues" including anti-social behaviour, interface violence, poor mental health and poverty. "That was acceptable for us but for the EA to come in and cut it by a further 25% is absolutely heartbreaking. To know that we're going to have to lose so many services for our children and young people is scandalous.
Stephen added: "It feels like all our hard work over the last 10 years has just gone down the tubes and this will set us back a decade. This decision will directly impact on our most vulnerable communities and leave them exposed to exploitation, coercion and self-harming behaviours. Stephen explained that the youth club would also have to limit the number of young people attending per night from the current 90 to just 35 and exclude many others with additional needs as it won't have the safe ratios of staff to young people to admit them.
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll said the proposed cuts to youth services will put young people at risk of "serious harm".
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