CHANGE 'RISKS UNDERMINING TRUST AND CONSISTENCY BUILT BY DEDICATED STAFF'

“We at the CYA feel very betrayed. We have made it clear from the outset that keeping the YET is by far the best way to protect and enhance the lives of young people in Croydon.”

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Gabriella, currently preparing for her GCSEs, added that although the council has promised the Youth Assembly will continue, there has been no communication on how this will happen.

Her concerns reflect a broader sentiment that youth voices are being sidelined.

The council held its consultation from December 5, 2024, to April 25, engaging with young people, parents, staff, and partners. However, many criticised the process for what they felt was a lack of transparency, with Croydon East MP Natasha Irons accusing the council of taking a “back door approach”.

Earlier this year, the LDRS reported that people in New Addington felt inadequately consulted about the closure of their local youth hub.

“They didn’t ask things in a way that gave [my son] the opportunity to express what he really felt,’ one parent said at the time.

Ms Irons has been a prominent critic of the cuts. In January, she launched a campaign to preserve YET services in high-need areas, push for a full public consultation, and ensure scrutiny by elected councillors.