Lib Dems scrap charges for teenagers at local youth centres

12.10.00am GMT Tue 8th Jan 2008

Cllr Stephen Knight with young people at the Kingsfield skatepark, where the first new youth centre in the borough in living memory is shortly to open.

Charges of 60p per session or £10 per year for attendance at Richmond's youth centres are to be scrapped in order to encourage more young people in the borough to use the clubs.

Cllr Stephen Knight, Deputy Leader of the Council said:

"Since winning control of the Council in May 2006 we have massively increased funding levels for the borough's youth service by £250,000 per annum.

"We have also invested over half a million in improving the five youth centre buildings and plan to invest a further £1m next year. The first new youth centre in the borough in living memory, at Kingsfield skatepark in Hampton Wick, is also shortly to open its doors for the first time.

"Now we are able to announce that we are going to scrap membership charges for the youth centres in a further move for young people."