Young People Speak Out

4.32.00pm GMT Wed 9th Dec 2009

Jenny, left, and Zoe, right - with young people from The Sweatbox

Three young people from the Sweatbox Union Youth Forum met with their local Lib Dem Councillors, Zoe Patrick and Jenny Hannaby, yesterday at County Hall. The young people were speaking at the Children's Services Scrutiny Committee against the proposed cuts in youth work funding, which the Conservative controlled County Council is considering as part of its budget setting exercise.

Scrutiny committees are currently meeting to discuss where savings can be made and committee members can contribute to the debate. The budget will be set at the full council meeting in February next year.

Zoe said, "The young people made an excellent presentation to the committee and were given a round of applause. The councillors round the table seemed suitably impressed and certainly did appear to have been convinced of what a valuable asset our youth centres are. I also spoke at the committee arguing the case that the Sweatbox is one of the few facilities which we have in our area and serves a huge population from Grove, Wantage and the surrounding villages."