'Our voice is being taken away' : Ramsgate youth club faces closure

We're hearing how young people in Kent feel their voice is being taken away due to the possible sale of a Ramsgate Youth Club.

Pie Factory Music launched a fundraiser to purchase Ramsgate Youth Centre last year, after learning Kent County Council is selling the property, as the authority works towards shaving tens of millions from its annual budget.

The centre, in the High Street, has ‘asset of community value’ (ACV) status which allows users to prepare a proposal and raise funds before a sale, but so far two offers by the charity have been rejected.

Zoë Carassik, CEO of Pie Factory Music, which supports vulnerable youngsters through creative projects, music and counselling, said: "I'm really angry, and I feel deeply that young people are getting such an unfair deal out of this, they deserve so much better

"It's the choices of the council that are leading to young people being put in very difficult situations and I believe they are making a terrible mistake and will end up paying out dividends in the cost of more expensive services down the line.

"The choice to sell the building is horribly short sighted and quite frankly shameful and they should be really ashamed of themselves."

KCC hopes to save nearly £1m by removing funding streams from outside bodies which run certain services and take them in-house.

The authority argues that youth services will be provided across the county at various family hubs and it expects the sale of the high street building to go towards “operational services”.

However Ms Carassik says without their current building they will be forced to move to a smaller venue where they would only be able to offer a limited service.

And, Myles Greggsby, who has attended the centre for the last few years, says he would be devastated if the club closed, he said: "If it wasn't for this place I would most likely be sat at home. I wouldn't have a friendship group or people around me if I needed help, I would be quite isolated and very insecure in myself."

Molly Whitnell attends the centre every week believes she would be a different person without it, she said: Outside of Pie I didn't really have any friends and people like Myles just clicked with me straight away and taught me what it is to have friendship.

"It's made me realise who I am, I never really realised the person I could be before, but here, at Pie, I can be that person."

A KCC spokesperson said: “It has been well documented that KCC needs to find an estimated £118million of savings this year to balance the budget and protect statutory services in the future.

“Following the decision not to renew commissioned youth services contracts last year, the Ramsgate Youth Centre is no longer required to support the delivery of youth Services. KCC’s youth services are delivered via the Council’s family hubs across the county.

“Given this, we will be progressing with the sale of the property in line with our normal processes for an asset of community value – which it is listed as.

“While this process allows time for community groups including the Pie Factory to raise funds and develop proposals, it does not obligate KCC to accept any proposal made. As the Pie Factory is aware, KCC has a duty to ensure it meets its financial, legal and statutory responsibilities as part of any sale in the interest of Kent Taxpayers.

“KCC will adhere to the ACV timescales and is committed to ensuring an open and transparent process. As part of this, along with others, the Pie Factory will be able to express an interest in the property at the appropriate time. It is expected that the proceeds from any sale will be reinvested to support the Council’s operational services.’’