YOUTH club members, parents and supporters are this week being urged to attend a public meeting at Tavistock Town Hall on Wednesday (April 16), to discuss Devon County Council's recent plans to cut its youth service budget.

The announcement that Devon County Council plans to cut almost £1-million from the youth service was given in February 2014.

The county's youth service costs £3.7-million a year and employs 114 staff — it has to save £110-million from its spending by 2017, and all of its services are under the spotlight.

Attending the public consultation will be members of Devon County Council, and local youth clubs which may be affected by the cuts.

Mandy Ewings, chairman of Tavistock Youth Café, is attending and urged all to attend the meeting especially parents and carers.

'I want to encourage parents to attend — we really need you to come along especially as the Mary Tavy Youth Club has now closed.

'We want Devon County Council to hear how parents feel about it, and we want county to listen to what's happening to this town.'

The county is considering moving from a 'universal service' to a more 'targeted' approach aimed at early help and prevention.

The targeted approach would mean the council would no longer have to manage or run more traditional centre-based activities aimed at universal support for all youngsters.

Skilled youth workers would work with social workers and other partners to identify and provide early help and support to vulnerable young people and those most at risk.

Jen Potts, the youth and community development worker for the Bere Peninsula, said: 'Further county-wide cuts forcing the closure of youth centres delivers another devastating blow to a sector already suffering the damage of recent reductions that span the past few years.

'The community needs to see how important the youth service is to the young people — there will be a huge deficit once it's gone.

'No-one will understand the impact this will have — there will be long term impact on the multiple services, including the police, NHS and justice system.

'Everyone needs to show their support and get behind the youth service, and it is important for parents to get involved.'

Cllr Anne Johnson, founder of the new Tavistock and District Youth Hub and member of the Outdoor Education Forum, said: 'I hope to come away [from the meeting] with a clearer vision for the future, however services for young people are delivered locally.

'Having been a volunteer in many aspects of youth work for over 40 years locally, I hope that there will be opportunities for voluntary groups to deliver quality services for young people in and around Tavistock.'

Making a stand against the county council's proposed cuts last Friday were youngsters from across West Devon. Twenty-four young people slept overnight at Okehampton's Room 13 youth centre.

Six youngsters from Tavistock made the 32-mile round trip from Tavistock to support the event.

Courtney Lobb from Okehampton, a senior member of Room 13 currently on work placement at the centre, said the protest was organised so that the young people could 'get their voices heard'.

'The support from the young people from Tavistock, North Tawton, and other places is really important.

'It shows that it is not just young people in Okehampton who will be hit hard by this proposal,' said Courtney.

By law the county council must provide a number of services, and while the youth service is not a statutory service the council is keen to find alternative delivery partners to secure a sustainable future.

A spokesperson for Devon County Council said: 'We are in consultation until April 27 and no decisions have been made.'

Youngsters who took part in the 'Occupy Room 13' protest are also planning to attend the public consultation on Wednesday and ask questions and share opinions.

The public consultation will be held at the town hall from 7pm to 9pm.

Another meeting, only for the youth affected by the proposed cuts, will be held on Wednesday, April 23 at the Molly Owen Centre in Tavistock.

Mrs Ewings added: 'We are really keen that the youngsters go to this meeting as they need their voice to be heard.'