Sadiq Khan pledges £30 million youth services investment if re-elected in May
The London mayor said the new funding would help tackle youth crime and support 300 youth projects currently operating across London.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Youth clubs and services in London will receive £30 million in new funding to help tackle youth crime if Sadiq Khan is re-elected in May, the Labour mayor has pledged.
Mr Khan said the money would help support the 300 youth projects currently operating across London, allowing them to continue providing services and expand their facilities.
The investment, which will be distributed over four years, will support a further 250,000 “positive opportunities” for young Londoners, including mentoring and after-school clubs, he said.
The London mayor said youth services – which offer children and young adults an outlet to play sport, go on trips and meet each other – play an important role in reducing youth crime.
“Youth clubs are really important because it gives young people a safe place to come,” he said. “They make friends, they flourish, they thrive.
“It means they’re not idle, they’re less likely to join a criminal gang, and in the last eight years we’ve provided positive opportunities for 500,000 young people.”
He outlined his pledge during a visit to the Knights Youth Centre in south London on Thursday, where he spoke to members about what access to the facilities meant to them.
The Streatham-based club has been helping people aged between eight and 25 on its present site since 1959, offering its members the opportunity to play sports, create music and socialise.
Mr Khan, who is seeking a third term in office, said Conservative rival Susan Hall thought youth services were a “waste of time”.
“My Conservative opponent does not believe in being tough on the complex causes of crime,” he added.
Youth violence is linked to poverty and mental illness, according to research carried out by the Greater London Assembly in 2019.
Since Mr Khan took office in 2016, City Hall has invested more than £100 million in London’s youth sector, most of it through the Young Londoner’s Fund and the Mayor’s New Deal for Young People programme.
Training young people not in education, employment or training will also be prioritised, he added.
Mr Khan spoke to members of the Knights Youth Centre, listening to music some had made, playing pool with them, and holding a roundtable discussion.