Torbay gets youth investment

The authority's been given a half a million pound boost

Investment in young people in Torbay by the government has been welcomed.

Torbay has received over half a million pounds of government funding to boost youth facilities – such as youth centres – in its towns.

The money is part of the youth investment fund which was launched last summer, and the government committed a pot of over £300 million to the scheme, which it says will help level up out-of-school youth facilities across the country.

Conservative Cllr Nick Bye, who is Torbay Council’s scrutiny lead for children’s services, spoke fondly of the fresh investment.

“I’m delighted that we’re going to get this money,” he said. “And I don’t believe that we have the youth provision in the Bay that we should have – I think there is scope to do more.

“I’ve been involved with our youth trust – particularly involved with youth engagement so we hear the voice of the young people and the care experienced young people, but we absolutely need to do more general youth work with children and families in the Bay. So that’s very good news.”

Children and Family Health Devon says that social interaction is a key factor towards improving mental health among young people. Statistics from the service suggests that mental disorders increased among girls and boys during the covid-19 pandemic.

“With the pandemic, that’s been a big, big hit,” explained Cllr Bye. “For quite a long time, schools were closed, but for a much, much longer time all the social stuff that children and young people would do came to a halt. And, we’ve heard that has had a big impact on their mental health.”

Liberal Democrat cabinet member for children’s services, Cllr Cordelia Law, has been contacted for a comment on the scheme.