The Mayor of London’s £45 million Young Londoners Fund for youth services has invited local community groups to bid for a share of the money.
In what could make a real difference to youth services in Barking and Dagenham, the bidding is open to charities, schools and voluntary organisations that run projects supporting disadvantaged youngsters.
The organisers are looking for projects that provide training and mentoring, promote skills and help youngsters to reach their potential. There will be a further £500,000 available for groups increasing community relations and social integration through sport.
The fund could provide a lifeline to youth services in Barking and Dagenham, which have seen a 70 per cent reduction since 2011. Over the same period of time, youth services across the capital have lost a staggering £145 million worth of funding.
It is hoped that the fund can also help to stem the instances of crime that have hit the headlines in recent months.
Speaking about the Young Londoners Fund, Amina Mohamed, who is a member of City Hall’s peer outreach team, said: “[The fund provides] countless opportunities to the young people who need it most. It is the start of very positive change around London and it couldn’t have come at a better time.”
In additonal good news for young people in Barking and Dagenham, it has been announced that the borough’s lowest paid council apprentices will receive a pay rise of £9,724. More senior apprentices will receive between £4,313 and £7,826, dependent upon age, which means all apprentices will now be paid the London Living Wage – £10.20 an hour.
The leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, Darren Rodwell, said of the pay increase: “As a council we are committed to paying all our staff a fair wage. We are enthusiastic supporters of the apprenticeship programme and are proud to currently employ 42 apprentices in a variety of service areas across the council.
“We want to encourage our residents to be aspirational and help us grow the borough, to ensure no one gets left behind.”
