YMCA Norfolk is still committed to youth work

By Keith Morris

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2010: YMCA Norfolk has reiterated its commitment to providing vital services to young people in Norfolk following news of £450,000 of funding cuts from Norfolk County Council.

 

Voluntary organisations across Norfolk have lost £1m in cuts from the Council’s Children’s Services department.

 

YMCA Norfolk Chief executive, Tim Sweeting, said: “We currently offer services in 35 local communities and schools across Norfolk from pastoral care work, counselling services and transition work from Primary to Secondary, throught to homelessness prevention work and work with youngsters not in employment, education or training.

 

“We will still be offering a service to schools but it won’t be as big as it once was.

 

“Our commitment to young people goes beyond one funding stream and we will continue to work to empower and support young people to reach their potential.

 

“YMCA Norfolk still has a vibrant offering for young people and we are in talks with schools and other partners about continuing our work on the back of the high quality of our delivery.

 

“This news gives us an opportunity to explore other avenues and we look forward to continuing our work with young people across the county,” said Tim.

 

“Charities are used to working in this sort of funding environment and we never take it for granted, so we deliver the best services we can when we have the funding.

 

“Everyone in the charity section realises that the current funding environment is not the best and in this particular case Norfolk County Council have had some very difficult decisions to make. But we are sure that we will be successful in other funding rounds and look forward to continuing our important work,” he said.