New data has revealed a shocking lack of council-run youth centres remain standing in Oldham following huge cuts to services in the last 13 years.

Research by Unison, compiled through freedom of information requests, found more than 1,000 youth centres operated by councils across the country have closed since 2010.

In Oldham, the data shows 10 youth centres have closed over the course of the past 13 years - and there were zero open by the end of 2023.  

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The union said such closures risk creating a "lost generation" of young people unable to access vital support with concerns the loss of so many facilities, and the specialist workers who run them, has put teenagers at risk of isolation, being swept into gang and knife culture, or taking part in anti-social activities on the streets.

The situation is not unique to Oldham either as the figures reveal two in five councils in England and Wales no longer operated their own youth centres - and only 581 centres were still in operation at the end of March last year.

Youth and council workers nationally told the union the closures had left teenagers without guidance and positive mentors, as well as taking away social hubs where young people can gather.

One council worker from across the UK said: “Many young people have nothing to keep them off the streets, away from exploitation, and potential violence at home. Knife crime has increased.

“Mental health has been hit due to less social interaction with positive peers and adults. Young people are increasingly isolated.”

Another said: “There’s been an increase in young people not attending school, and more exclusions too. It’s led to a breakdown in community relations, youth offending is up and there are more young people who aren’t in education, employment or training.”

Unison’s head of local government Mike Short said: “Years of cuts have hit communities hard and left vulnerable youngsters high and dry.

“In the past, youth centres were able to help keep teenagers on the right path, providing guidance and advice to youngsters who perhaps weren’t getting any support at home.

"They’re also places to develop new skills and passions.

“But when youth services are axed, there’s nothing positive to fill that space, allowing criminal elements to move in and exploit naive young people.

“Councils and the youth workers they employ can do a lot of good for local communities and help keep the streets safer too, but only if they are given the funding to do so.

“Sadly a decade and more of austerity has undone much of the previous good work and created a lost generation of youngsters.”

However, despite the loss of council-led youth centres run in the borough, there are a handful of other clubs stepping up to the mark with funding from Oldham Council.

This includes the charity, Mahdlo Youth Zone, which opened in 2012 in the heart of Oldham to provide activities, experiences and opportunities for youngsters between eight to 19.

Meanwhile, since its inception in 1968, Oldham Theatre Workshop was one of the country's first youth and community theatre organisations that supports thousands of children and young people between six to 25 in the community.

An Oldham Council spokesperson said: “We want to give our children and young people the best possible start in life.

“Like many councils across the country, our funding has reduced significantly in recent years, however we still continue to deliver a wide range of engaging youth work provision across the borough.

“This includes our dedicated Youth Service which delivers a comprehensive range of youth work programmes, including youth clubs and detached youth work, as well as Oldham Theatre Workshop which provides a wide range of drama and theatre-related workshops for young people aged six to 25.

“We also continue to support Mahdlo Youth Zone which provides a fantastic array of activities and sessions for young people across our borough.” 

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