The former children’s commissioner, Sir Al Aynsley-Green (pictured above), has criticised the abolition of the education maintenance allowance and the increase in tuition fees, suggesting this will deter poorer students from continuing in education.

He also warned that cutbacks to youth services will lead to increased antisocial behaviour, an opinion echoed by a report from the National Council for Voluntary Youth Services (NCVYS).

“We are witnessing the destruction of many of the building bricks of support for children and young people to achieve their full potential in life,” Green told The Guardian newspaper. He was children’s commissioner until last year.

The NCVYS report says that there is a heavy burden being placed on young people by government cuts, not only to education but to employment benefit, the Future Jobs Fund and youth justice, amongst other services and grants. 

"The overall picture is one of less financial support for young people, receding support for those working with young people to develop them and reduced investment in the charitable sector, which could be a source for training, skills development and employment opportunities for young people," the report concludes.

Susanne Rauprich, chief executive of the NCVYS said: “By failing to take a comprehensive view of the cumulative impact that the cuts agenda places on young people we are risking unintended consequences that could in the long term prevent a large number of young people, and in particularly those that are already disadvantaged, from realising their true potential.”

A spokesman for the Department for Education responded: “We have prioritised the money that goes to teachers and found extra money for pupils from the most disadvantaged backgrounds.”

The NCYVS report is available here.

Written by Civil Service World