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We take youth funding and youth crime seriously
• I READ with interest two articles, one on youth clubs coming together for a concert (Youth Clubs Unite for One Voice anti-knives concert and Summer fun for youngsters, July 31).
First, I would like to commend Camden’s youth clubs on joining forces for the One Mic One Voice concert and I wish them every success. However, your article goes on to comment that a lack of action and ideas from politicians and the council is not helping to tackle the issue of youth crime. I do not believe the council is lacking in ideas or innovation.
A quick glance at our summer activities programme reveals a wealth of events, activities and courses.
This year’s summer programme for teenagers and young people is bigger and better than ever before. We consulted some of the 700 young people who took part in our programme last year and as a result have an even more exciting range of activities on offer.
Young people will be able to choose from workshops and courses ranging from street dance to urban poetry, sports such as basketball or tennis, a hairdressing academy, and even an accredited week-long journalism project. These activities are not, as you say in your News Extra piece, “aimed at keeping young people out of trouble”. Most of our young people are an asset to the community and keen to make the most of what is on offer to them.
You also suggest our Camden Summer University activities programme is “expensive”. We offer this programme free of charge because we want to ensure Camden’s young people are getting all the services, activities and experiences they want and need to get the very best start in life. This certainly belies the view that we are cutting funding to youth services as has previously been mentioned in your paper. In fact a whole host of activities are available from June through to the autumn in Camden, everything is listed on our website camden.gov.uk/summer and highlights include free swimming at all local leisure centres for under-16s.
Camden Council takes the issue of youth funding and youth crime seriously.
This year we have ploughed extra money into facilities for children and young people. We continue to invest heavily in youth projects because we know how important they are in the community. The council also communicates directly with young people in our borough because we want to hear what they have to say. We recently established a youth council, giving young people aged 13 to 19 a say in local decision-making.
As a council, we are committed to providing the best services and support to our young people and their families, and I would urge as many young people as possible to take part in this year’s summer activities and enjoy the best of what Camden has to offer.
CLLR KEITH MOFFIT
Leader, Camden Council
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