A CHARITY providing vital youth services could be forced to close its doors – months after it was awarded funding for a new building.

Youth in Romsey (YIR) could lose up to 80 per cent from April next year as Hampshire County Council scales back its grants.

Now they are urging people to tell the council just how vital their services are and ask them to think again.

The decision to cut funding will be made based on a public consultation which asks communities their views on where they should save money, which closes on December 10.

It comes just three months after Hampshire County Council and Test Valley Borough Council announced they would fund a new £342,000 building as the charity has outgrown its current premises above Anya shoe shop in Bell Street.

Work is due to start on the new site next to the cricket pavilion at Romsey Sports Centre in the New Year ready for a summer opening.

But now the charity are concerned they may only be able to open one day a week if its grants are slashed from £57,000 a year to less than £16,200.

Youth in Romsey was launched in 1997 by the town’s churches and supports 200 youngsters aged 11 to 25 every month holding activities and helping with issues relating to education, employment, finances and sexual and mental health.

The charity, run mostly by volunteers, also visits schools across the area and runs its weekly Allsorts youth club for disabled youngsters.

Vice chairman of trustees and Test Valley Borough and Romsey Town councillor Ian Richards said of the proposed cuts: “It will make it difficult to deliver the range of services that we currently supply and are much used by the community.

“The investment in YIR for their continued work is essential for long-term savings in southern Test Valley. A young person with problems solved and helped into employment is preventing future costs to our community.

“Prevention cannot be quantified, but statistics showing help requests from our young people do prove the need of such a valued project in Romsey.”

Mr Richards added that Romsey Town Council do not fund youth services.

He said: “During last year and this year I have asked them to consider a youth provision budget for Youth in Romsey from the town council but have twice been refused.”

Leader of Hampshire County Council Roy Perry said that he considers youth services important and backed the council’s decision to fund the new building. However, he said the council was facing severe reductions in its government grant and that every department had to find savings.

“I’m afraid it’s a fact of economic life – we have to live within our means. That is why the consultation has to look at all non statutory services.” said Mr Perry.

He added that he hoped to find the cash to support YIR and he also called on the town council to give the service financial backing.

“I recognise that Youth in Romsey do a good job for Romsey’s young people.

“I remain deeply disappointed that the Romsey Town Council as far as I can see give no support for youth activities.

“This is in stark contrast to town councils such as Totton and Ringwood to name just two where their town councils give capital and revenue funding for youth activities.”

For more information about YIR call 01794 500581 or visit: yir.org.uk/save-yir.