ANTI-social behaviour and community safety are identified as key risks by Somerset County Council in an assessment of the possible impact of proposed changes to youth services.

Youth Services have been dealt a major blow with a proposed 75% budget cut being announced by the council in response to the Government’s spending review.

The budget cut will see funding going from £12 million to £3 million over a three-year period beginning in April next year.

The youth service currently includes youth clubs, projects, residential activities, training and participation, such as the Youth Parliament, volunteering opportunities and the Duke of Edinburgh Award.

The county council’s outline of the proposed changes said: “As a result of a reduction in opportunity for positive activity, there may be some increase in substance misuse, anti-social behaviour and a reduction in the emotional health and well-being of young people and in community safety.”

The Minehead Eye, a new multi-million pound youth centre does not receive local government funding but are self-funding instead.

Naomi Griffith, director of the centre said other youth services are now likely to have to take this route and operate more commercially.

She said: “It is the changing face of youth services - they are going to be have to be more commercial without being profit making.

“We get funding from charging for membership, our café and services.

“We do not get any local government funding and are designed to be a self-funding but not-for-profit - we did that on purpose to make sure we aren’t affected by cuts.”

She added: “If youth clubs are going to close we are going to become even more important as a facility for young people in West Somerset.”

Are you a parent or young person concerned about losing your local youth services?

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