Sit-in protests as youth services face axe

YOUNG people at three youth centres in Rotherham staged occupations against cuts in youth services.

YOUNG people at tthree youth centres in Rotherham staged occupations against cuts in youth services.

Some 40 young people aged between 11 and 15 occupied Dalton Youth Centre last Thursday. Other groups occupied the Bramley Youth Centre and the Rotherham town centre youth cafe.

Inspired by the student occupations around the country before Christmas, they are demanding no cuts to youth services or job cuts in Rotherham’s Connexions service.

The occupations happened after a protest organised by users of seven local youth clubs, which was backed by the Unison union, which organises youth centre workers.

One of the organisers, Wayne Fielding (18), said: “We’ve shown that young people care and the council and people higher up have to realise that we are going to fight for what we want.”

 

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