Please click here to sign up to receive our email newsletter.
News
-
Fabulous Feedback – OPCC Project
Just look at this fabulous feedback, given to our wonderful youth worker, Jessica, following her OPCC work in schools.
28 July 2021
-
Training Update
We have now finished delivering the Fit4Youth Programme across schools in West Berkshire.
28 July 2021
-
Wellbeing Programme
We are delighted to be working with Aspire 2Be to deliver a Wellbeing Programme for students across West Berkshire secondary schools.
28 July 2021
-
Supporter Focus – Osborne Clarke
We are extremely grateful to local organisations who support us.
28 July 2021
-
Waterside Update
We are delighted to be opening the doors of our newly-refurbished youth and community centre soon.
28 July 2021
-
Volunteer with Berkshire Youth!
“Volunteers are not paid – not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless!”
28 July 2021
-
CEO’s Thoughts (July Newsletter)
Welcome to July’s newsletter.
28 July 2021
-
Waterside Boost from Community Infrastructure Levy
After nearly ten years of trying to secure the future of the Waterside Centre as a resource for young people and the community of Newbury, we are delighted that we have finally reached the end of the refurbishments.
28 July 2021
-
Meet Waterside Centre’s New Youth and Community Manager
We’re delighted to announce that Kelly Leach is our new Youth and Community Manager for Waterside Centre, Newbury.
26 July 2021
-
Tilehurst Parish Council Survey for Young People
Tilehurst Parish Council would love to hear from young people, aged 11 to 18, in the Parish through completion of this survey.
21 July 2021
CEO’s Thoughts (January Newsletter)
28 January 2021
It was great to see the recent Guardian story highlighting the cuts to youth services and support for young people. I am glad that the media have started to support young people and are actively engaging with Berkshire Youth and the national organisations to enable that conversation to be heard.
During one of the worst pandemics, we have seen all too well the huge gaps in support for young people out of school. Through the government’s own data we can track the huge rise in the number of young people being referred to social care. Prior to the pandemic, from 2015 to 2019, one local area in our county reported a 79% increase in referrals. We have also seen reports of 97% cuts in youth service funding, with one unitary authority cutting its youth work budget from £2.26 million in 2012 to £0.12m in 2018/19. A cut of more than £2 million doesn’t just wipe out a couple of posts, but decimates a profession and support structure for young people in both the short term and for many years to come. This puts more pressure on referrals and an already overburdened school and social care system.
We have to look at a balance between intervention by the state and prevention, and are we excited by the Waterside Centre which is on track to open this year. Although the project faces huge funding challenges and restrictions, we will get there. If you would like to donate to this project, please visit our fundraising page on the Good Exchange where Greenham Trust are matching every donation made.
We have also been busy freshening up the website and expanding the West Berkshire Youth Hub to cover all areas of Berkshire. Now called ‘Berkshire Youth Hubs’, we are busy populating the sites with resources and information for young people, parents and supporters. Please take some time to have a look at the new hub here.
We are all looking forward to 2021 and cannot wait for the return of life as we should know it. Keep the faith and thank you all for supporting young people!
If you know of others who would like to receive our newsletter, please ask them to email us at: admin@berkshireyouth.co.uk