A city council is to send a delegation to tackle Education Authority bosses amid a funding “crisis” in local youth groups.
Members of Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council (LCCC) have called for an urgent meeting with the EA ahead of new financial support rates coming in to play in a matter of weeks.
During a meeting of the council’s leisure committee, the EA faced calls to “give the money back” to local youth groups facing hefty budget cuts if the wrong formula has been used to slash funding.
Read more: Belfast youth clubs come together to stand against funding cuts.
Downshire West DUP councillor, Caleb McCready said: “I understand that some cuts need to be made, but in Moira there is a youth group, ‘Logic’ which is facing 60% cuts.
“I understand Logic has had the biggest cuts in our council area. This will mean they will have to lay off staff as well as cut after school facilities that they provide in the community.
“They also provide a drop-in centre at weekends, which takes many youths off the street, that will now not happen. These cuts are unjust and unfair. The EA seems to have dug their heels into the ground on this.
“The current funding ends at the end of March. If the formula has not been used properly, if they have got it wrong, they should put their hands up and give the money back to Logic and all other youth groups.”
Killutagh Alliance councillor, Sian Mulholland added: “I have been in the youth sector for well over 20 years. I don’t use the word crisis flippantly, we are at the point of crisis with youth service money being taken away.
“We need to speak directly with the EA, to see the whites of their eyes and get our feet under the the table, to see what can be done. We need to focus on a u-turn across the board. I would in the future like to see regular meetings with the EA in chambers.”
LCCC group leaders will now nominate members for a delegation to meet with the EA to discuss the youth group funding cuts.
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