Youth service set to reduce hours

The Web Youth Service is expected to have to cut its opening hours by one third, after the service failed to gain on-going "enhancement" funding from the Department of Community Services.

"This decision will likely force the closure of the service on Mondays and Tuesdays," said manager Mr Adrian Devine.

"This will restrict the service to operating on only four days per week, Wednesday to Saturday, instead of the current six days per week."

He said these opening hours were possible with the basic recurrent operational funding, $95,000 a year from the Department of Community Services, and funds from NSW Health to operate the Friday night Adolescent Health Clinic which would remain.

"We accept that there will always be restricted government financial resources to fund infinite community need, but we are somewhat alarmed and dismayed that young people in need without a political voice are often the first casualties," Mr Devine said.

"We readily acknowledge the $50,000 funding we are seeking to retain is not an insignificant amount, but we would argue that the real cost of neglecting these young people in need in the long term would be significantly higher.

"Fifty-thousand dollars from DOCS to fund the proven early intervention and behaviour modification strategies of the Web, is a wise investment.

"The Web has attracted great community support and we are confident this will continue.

"We remain committed to providing the best possible service for our youth throughout the Peninsula, and we will continue to lobby for funding for The Web Youth Service to remain open and accessible to young people aged 12 to 18 years six days per week."

Press release, 26 May 2008 Aidan Devine, Web Youth Service