Children’s sector fears losing out under Big Society plans

The coalition government’s bid to create a “Big Society” could pose a severe threat to services for children and young people, professionals have warned.

Proposals to overhaul the planning system will encourage a “not in my back yard” mentality by allowing residents groups to block youth clubs and children’s homes from being set up, according to practitioners who have been on the receiving end of planning protests.

Meanwhile, Labour leadership candidate Ed Miliband has blasted the decision to channel the unclaimed money from dormant bank accounts into a “Big Society Bank”. The Dormant Accounts Act 2008, of which Miliband was a key architect, had earmarked the cash for youth facilities. But now the estimated £300m-£400m will be split between neighbourhood groups, charities and social enterprises.

Miliband told CYP Now: “Labour laid down in law that money from dormant bank accounts must be spent on facilities for young people.

If the government downgrades that commitment, people will conclude that its claims to care about improving the life chances of young people are hollow.”

Linda Jack, chair of the Liberal Democrat youth policy working group, said the pot for youth facilities is now likely to be smaller, saying: “We thought there would be money there for the youth sector but that has been lost.”

In his speech launching the Big Society vision last week, Prime Minister David Cameron said it would “give neighbourhoods far more ability to determine the shape of places in which their inhabitants live”.

But in recent years, residents in areas across the country have protested against new youth facilities, fearing they would lead to noise and antisocial behaviour.

Uniformed youth group the Woodcraft Folk was involved in a two-year battle with residents in West Sussex, who were opposed to young people camping in local countryside. Last year, residential care provider Northerncare faced resistance on plans to open a children’s home.

Peter Hart, a youth worker from Hartlepool, said: “Where we work, a lot of people have complained about youth shelters, saying they encourage young people into their community.”

Kevin Gallagher, chief executive of Bryn Melyn, said residents often have the same reaction to children’s homes, in rural or suburban areas.

Sam Dimmock, head of policy at the Children’s Rights Alliance for England, warned that there are risks in devolving such powers to communities. “I would like to see how they are going to set up structures to involve children in decisions that affect communities,” she said.

A Cabinet Office spokesman said there has to be a balance between what communities want and what is best for children. But he said the balance is currently tipped against local people.

Plans on the Big Society Bank will be set out in detail, he added, but confirmed some money will still go to youth projects.