Connexions service cut by £500k (From Warrington Guardian)

Service in town cut by £500k

8:22am Monday 9th August 2010 in News

TEENAGERS in the town will suffer after the Government cuts Connexions’ budget by more than £500,000.

The service based at the Gateway on Sankey Street, which advises teenagers on education, careers, housing, money, health and relationships, will be cutting back on staff and provisions including help for vulnerable young people such as teenage parents.

Seventy-five people will be made redundant in Cheshire due to the Government’s plans to tighten purse strings.

Steve Hoy, chief executive of Connexions, said: “The size of these cuts is deep and very major and is made all the worse by the need to save the full annual amount but in half a year.

“What we are trying to do now is to restructure to continue to provide local services to those young people most in need and to look at how we can continue to provide that all important impartial careers advice and guidance.”

Local Authorities receive funding from central Government for Connexions but the decision is taken locally about how much of the cut should apply.

The cuts throughout the county amount to £1.7 million.

Services slashed will include career advisors in schools, colleges and special schools.

Many staff have opted to reduce their hours to save other people’s jobs.

Connexions vow to continue offering the services but at a reduced level.

New technology, including an online advice line will be drafted in.