London Youth Offer funding welcomed by London Councils

Welcoming the Mayor's announcement of how an additional £20 million to support boroughs in their work for children and young people will be allocated, London Councils' Executive Member for Children and Young People, Councillor James Kempton said:

"This money will come as a welcome boost to support the excellent work already underway in each of the boroughs. London's authorities want all young people to enjoy their childhoods, and work hard both to support them, and to provide them with the right environment in which to thrive.

"We are pleased that £14 million from the Mayor will be shared across the capital, adding to funding from the government. Boroughs are committed to working together and with the Mayor to make a real difference to young Londoners. With this is mind, it is essential that the £6 million being held over to support innovation is used to target schemes that can make a lasting difference in London.

"Through one example of our co-operation, the London Youth Crime Prevention Board, London Councils and the GLA have helped to develop a set of priorities that the Mayor should focus this funding on. Central to this will be investment to improve London's Pupil Referral Units which provide the last safety net for some young people to remain in the education system and turn their lives around. 

"We are particularly pleased that our young people will be involved in deciding how this money is spent - encouraging young people to play a leading role for their community is something London's authorities have long supported. Because of this, we are also keen to develop youth leadership schemes which will encourage young people to develop the skills to do this - as well as harness their full potential. I would be delighted to discuss these priorities with the Mayor at an early opportunity."

In September, the Mayor of London announced that he would contribute £20 million to boroughs to match funding they receive from government through the Youth Opportunity Fund (YOF) and Positive Activities for Young People (PAYP).

Details of the London Youth Offer, which will run from 2008 to 2010, were announced today (Wednesday) by the Mayor of London.

£20 million funding will come from the Mayor's London Development Agency, with £14 million being allocated across all the capital's 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.