Express & Star

Youth worker job cuts 'unacceptable' - MP

An MP has labelled a council's plans to make youth workers redundant 'unacceptable' as he called for their jobs to be saved.

Published
Ian Austin

Ian Austin has urged Dudley Council to scrap its plans to make youth clubs for disabled children completely voluntary-run.

The proposals have been met with anger by dozens of parents who regularly take their children to the sessions.

A petition has been launched as the council faces a growing backlash over the plan.

Staff who deliver sessions at Rockies in Gornal, Lower Gornal Youth Centre, The Source in Wordsley and Stourbridge Youth Centre have all been told they are at risk of redundancy.

Mr Austin, Labour MP for Dudley North, has now waded into the row as he called for council bosses to think again.

He said: "I am very concerned about the effect these changes could have on disabled young people.

“The youth workers do a great job, they provide a valuable service to many youngsters and it’s unacceptable that Dudley Council are putting this at risk.

“I’ll be working with parents, young people and campaigners to do all I can to get the council to think again.”

Parents have raised concerns about the impact of the cuts on children who use the service.

The centres would remain open but would be run completely by volunteers, leading to questions about whether the model would be sustainable long-term.

Workers currently help provide support classes for around 100 children and young people across the Dudley borough with a range of disabilities.

Council bosses have said they have to make 'difficult decisions' and stressed a final call had not yet been made.