Dear Editor,
This week it has been very positive to see Abianda, Groundwork The Black Enterprise and Training Group, Body and Soul, Finsbury Park Mosque, Freedom from Torture, St Giles Trust, ThinkForward and awarded funding from City Hall’s Young Londoners Fund to deliver key local youth and early intervention projects in Islington. This should be seen as a testament to all the crucial work they do to support young people in our community.
It is vital that we properly invest in the next generation of Londoners to ensure that they have equal access to all the opportunities our city has to offer, and to prevent the most vulnerable in our society from becoming caught up in crime.
Whilst City Hall is setting a good standard in this respect, we now need the Government to follow suit. For too long, charities and community organisations have had to step forward and plug the gaps left by the complete lack of investment being made into key services.
To ensure that no more young people are left behind, the Government must stick to their pledge to abandon austerity and reverse the ruthless cuts they have made to policing and youth services.
Yours,
Jennette Arnold OBE AM
London Assembly Member for North East (Hackney, Islington and Waltham Forest)