Aberdeenshire youth workers could benefit from £70,000 of funding as part of the council’s upcoming budget.
The local authority will vote on budget proposals early next month and the political groups within the council are currently negotiating the spending plans.
The Partnership administration has been tasked with making £26million of cuts during the coming financial year. But the Democratic Independent and Green Group is proposing a “small budget adjustment that could make a big difference”.
Councillors Paul Johnston and Martin Ford are proposing the reallocation of £70,000 from the community learning and development fund – which was not all spent this year – to support youth work.
Mr Johnston said: “We believe informal learning activity for young people in safe social spaces is valuable for both the young people involved and communities.”
The two councillors accept the remit of the community learning and development fund has changed, but are convinced that youth work still deserves support.
Mr Ford added: “We want the council to be able to support youth work that now falls outside the scope of community learning and development.
“Provision could be either by the council itself or by making funding available to community groups.”
Some community organisations which work with young people are facing a continual struggle for funding.
And Mr Ford said:: “In such circumstances, a small grant from the council could make a big difference and would certainly represent value for money for the council in terms of the benefits for the community.”
The two DIGG councillors have a formal confidence and supply agreement with the ruling Partnership administration and have pushed through policies including a new carbon budget and increased budget consultation in the past 18 months.
A public consultation on spending and saving options for Aberdeenshrie Council’s upcoming revenue budget drew to a close yesterday[TUESDAY].
A final budget will be debated and set on Thursday, February 9.
