[cma-l] Every London borough to benefit from £78 million youth funding

[vaniamendes at hotmail.co.uk]

Mayor of London news release
Office hours: 020 7983 4070
Out of hours and weekends: 020 7983 4000
http://www.london.gov.uk

GLA/2007/765
Wednesday 5th December

ISSUED ON A NO APPROACH BASIS AND EMBARGOED UNTIL 12.00 WEDNESDAY 5TH 
DECEMBER

Every London borough to benefit from £78 million youth funding

Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone and Minister for Children, Young People 
and Families, Beverley Hughes MP, today announced a £78 million funding 
package for young Londoners and how this investment will benefit each of 
London’s 33 local authorities.

In September 2007 the Mayor and Government announced initial proposals 
for a £60 million package of measures, 'The London Youth Offer' to 
provide more activities and services for young people in the capital. 
£20 million will come from the Mayor's London Development Agency and £40 
million was to come from the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

The Mayor today welcomed the announcement of an extra £18 million from 
Department for Children, Schools and Families for the London Youth 
Offer, building on the £40 million the Department had already pledged 
and taking the overall funding to £78 million.

Allocations to all London Boroughs are being made by both the Mayor and 
the Department for Children, Schools and Families. The Mayor will also 
be creating an Innovation and Development Fund of up to £6 million to 
encourage groups and individuals to improve the services available to 
young Londoners.

Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone said:
"This £78 million funding will provide real alternatives to life on the 
streets, giving young Londoners more places to go and things to do.
Just as we have invested in public transport and put police back on the 
streets, this funding will begin to reverse the decline of facilities 
for young people in the capital.

"It is vital that every young Londoner is given the chance to fulfill 
their potential and this investment will give children and teenagers 
from London's poorest estates and communities right across the capital 
opportunities to learn new skills through training, sports and cultural 
activities".

Minister for Children, Young People and Families, Beverley Hughes MP said:
"We want all young people to have the opportunity to take part in 
positive activities, which are not only fun, but can boost young 
people's confidence and consequently their chances of doing well in life.

"That is why I am pleased to announce an additional £18 million for The 
London Youth Offer, building on the £40 million that we have already 
pledged.

"Putting spending power in the hands of young people helps them to 
fulfil their potential, whatever their background. This is a great 
opportunity to celebrate and nurture the achievements of young people 
and those who work with them".

Chief Executive of the London Development Agency, Manny Lewis, said:
"I am delighted that we – the London Development Agency – have been able 
to respond to the needs of London's young people.  We want to help 
develop their skills, build upon their career aspirations and, in time, 
help them play an active part and share in London's success."

Ends.

Notes to editors:

       1.      Funding for London Boroughs from Department for Children, 
Schools and Families and London Development Agency combined:
       Borough Name            Total Funding
       Barking & Dagenham      £2,252,142
       Barnet                  £1,857,551
       Bexley                  £1,155,016
       Brent                   £2,621,512
       Bromley                 £1,316,380
       Camden                  £2,560,664
       City of London          £412,455
       Croydon                 £2,743,488
       Ealing                  £1,587,265
       Enfield                 £2,397,306
       Greenwich                       £3,338,332
       Hackney                 £3,882,860
       Hammersmith & Fulham    £1,671,051
       Haringey                        £2,608,645
       Harrow                  £1,026,086
       Havering                        £978,307
       Hillingdon                      £2,115,393
       Hounslow                        £1,922,351
       Islington                       £2,928,289
       Kensington and Chelsea  £1,746,334
       Kingston upon Thames    £707,111
       Lambeth                 £3,823,028
       Lewisham                        £3,859,231
       Merton                  £920,277
       Newham                  £4,085,128
       Redbridge                       £1,274,081
       Richmond upon Thames    £691,237
       Southwark                       £3,982,431
       Sutton                  £1,084,950
       Tower Hamlets           £3,789,101
       Waltham Forest          £2,716,736
       Wandsworth              £1,798,100
       Westminster             £2,629,621
       Total:                  £72,482,459

       2.      Overall Youth Investment funding:

         Positive Activities for Young People Programme  Youth 
Opportunity and Capital Funds     London Development Agency Mayor Fund 
   TOTAL
Department Children Schools and Families – London Borough Allocation 
  £36,320,026     £22,162,400             £58,482,426
London Development Agency - London Borough Allocation    £8,000,000 
  £6,000,000              £14,000,000
London Development Agency - Mayor's Innovation and Development Fund 
                  £6,000,000      £6,000,000
TOTAL    £44,320,026     £28,162,400     £6,000,000      £78,482,426

       3.      The London Youth Offer will run over two years from 2008 
to 2010.
       4.      £20 million funding will come from the Mayor's London 
Development Agency, £14 million of which has been allocated to London 
boroughs today. The remaining £6 million of the Mayor's funding package 
will be set aside for an Innovation and Development Fund to encourage 
pan- London, cross- borough or pilot initiatives by groups and individuals.
       5.      The youth funding is particularly aimed at the most 
deprived and hard to reach young Londoners who are most likely to be 
victims of crime and are at risk of involvement in anti-social behaviour 
or street gangs.
       6.      The Government's contribution is part of the substantial 
investment in places to go and things to do for teenagers announced in 
the 10 Year Youth strategy, 'Aiming high for young people' in July. This 
money will be made up of cash to fund Positive Activities for Young 
People and money for the Youth Opportunity and Youth Capital Funds.
       7.      Young People from Bassline Circus performed for the Mayor 
at City Hall today. Baseline Circus is one of Sound Connections members 
who have been working on the Youth Music Mentors programme. This project 
allows young people to become 'Peer Mentors' and support other young 
people to use music to engage them in positive activities and develop 
new skills. For further information contact www.basslinecircus.org or 
www.sound-connections.org.uk/content.php

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