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| Parliamentary Candidate Terry Scriven (Left) with Alison Foster Connexions Manager for New Forest and Brian Terry, (Right) The Mayor of Ringwood. |
New Forest Liberal Democrats have expressed dismay at plans to close Connexions Centres across Hampshire.
The Connexions service provides a range of vital services, especially for young people not in employment, education or training (NEET). The service ranges from helping them access services they need, assisting them into employment or training and dealing with benefits.
In the New Forest, Connexions provides a service for about 50 hours a week from nine sites, including youth centres, libraries and voluntary sector facilities, but, mainly from the two Connexions Centres. One of them, based in Ringwood, was only officially opened with much fanfare in July.
A decision to move the service under the control of Hampshire County Council was made in June. However, it now seems that the Conservative controlled authority wants to close all Connexions Centres in the County, although retaining some as administration only centres.
Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Campaigner Terry Scriven, who was present at the opening ceremony of the Ringwood Centre says “I’m shocked by this news. It makes no sense at all. Connexions provides a vital service for young people in desperate need of support. About 2,500 young people were seen by Connexions in a recent 12 month period in the New Forest area alone. The numbers are rising, not falling. This can only happen because the Connexions sites are accessible”.
County Councillor, Brian Dash, the member for Hythe says “These plans will lead to a disconnected service. It cannot be right to close down such an obviously successful operation that serves the needs of such an important group of people.” |
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