Tears and fury as Birmingham youth support workers given marching orders at 'virtual' meeting
There has been an angry backlash today after 'insensitive' council chiefs told youth support staff their jobs were being 'deleted' during a mass virtual meeting, without any warning. Heartbroken staff, some with over two decades of service, were told their roles were going, subject to consultation, as part of massive cost-saving cuts to the already stripped-back youth service.
The city's strategic director for children and families, Sue Harrison, made the announcement on a virtual call with staff to update on the findings of an independent review into the service. The news left some in tears and 'breaking their hearts', said one youth worker present at the meeting.
"They were told they were essentially losing their jobs in front of everyone. Imagine how that felt? We have had people in real distress, off sick since with anxiety as a result, worried about how they will pay their mortgage or rent, worried about Christmas. Then after telling them this news, staff were asked if they were excited about the proposals, while most people on the call were in tears.
"Everyone was breaking their hearts for their colleagues but also for the young people we know will be affected. It was disgusting to then expect us to be pleased with what they were saying."
READ MORE: Birmingham youth support workers 'to be axed' and youth centres 'sold off' in planned cuts
The meeting was called to share the outcome of an independent review into youth, careers and 14-19 services in the city. The budget for youth services is set to be reduced to just under £1.2 million a year. Consultation will now take place into the proposals, with a deadline of November 9th.
Save Birmingham Youth Services campaign group includes youth workers who shared their thoughts on the outcome with BirminghamLive. The meeting, held Thursday, had a strict one hour limit so the director left immediately at 4pm, we understand.
"It was then left to staff on the call to decide how to share the news with people who had not been on it. The part timers not present were hearing via gossip, whatsapp and so on that their job was gone, so we had to arrange emergency meetings that night in youth centres and online to inform them as much as we knew, without having any written information to work from. It was a mess."
They added: "We were expecting to hear there would be changes and reductions, that there would be a voluntary redundancy offer, but not that a whole group of posts would be going in such a blatant way."
Youth workers present also claim that when they queried the review's recommendation to lose all of the part time support worker roles, they were told that if they felt their own jobs would not be achievable without them they could consider their own positions instead and present alternative proposals. One way or another the budget cuts would have to be achieved, they were told.
The proposals will see the deletion of all part time youth support worker roles - 37 in all. Youth support workers perform vital work alongside youth workers, helping particularly to run evening and weekend youth activities, mentor young people and provide guidance. Also set for the chop are seven out of eight administrative staff, most based in the city's remaining youth centres. The role of head of the youth service is also going to be downgraded under the proposals.
READ MORE: Youth service cuts in Birmingham could be 'catastrophic' amid bloodshed, warn experts
Also announced at the meeting was a review of the future of the remaining youth centres in the city. The council was first going to be 'open to expressions of interest' from developers and other parties potentially interested in any of the buildings. Among them is the Factory, which occupies a landmark site in Longbridge Lane. It opened just over a decade ago, costing £5 million. The Lighthouse, serving young people in Lozells, Aston and Newtown, is also deemed a prime site, and opened in 2013.
Youth workers say the cuts will affect hundreds of young people currently using youth provision, especially the most vulnerable. The company Newton Europe was commissioned to carry out the review. The firm says on its website that it is committed to 'supporting local authorities to find better ways of delivering good outcomes for children and families, improve staff engagement, and deliver meaningful financial benefits.'
Consultation Timeline
September 25: Unions and staff consultation meeting
September 26: Consultation on restructure of service including deletion of youth support worker roles, alongside voluntary redundancy expressions of interest
November 9: Consultation ends
November 10 onwards: Mobilise phase 2 of the proposals, which will decide on future of youth centres
The city council has so far refused to share its proposals for the youth service or the findings of the Newton Europe report, which has left us relying on the recollections of those at the virtual meeting. But Sue Harrison, the city council's Strategic Director for Children and Families, said in a statement: “Consultation has commenced on a redesign of the council’s Youth Service aimed at creating a service model that is sustainable and provides a consistent approach to youth services across the city that is more aligned with other services working with young people.
“We appreciate that any meeting where staff reductions are proposed can be difficult for staff and we have signposted support from managers as well as the council’s Employee Assistance Programme, for those who wish to take it up. Every member of staff will be invited to a one-to-one discussion as part of the consultation process.”
The announcement follows a review of the Council’s Youth Service, Careers Service and 14-19 Participation and Skills Team to design the blueprint for how the council can continue to sustainably deliver its strategic priorities and obligations, said the council. The proposals were presented to the trade unions and then staff, with an overview of the rationale for the redesign and the impact on staffing.
The council added: "We have a budget envelope for the service which has been shared throughout the review and staff are invited to submit alternative proposals which will be considered as part of the consultation process. Over the next two financial years, the council must find savings of £376m. The Children and Families Directorate has been given a savings target of £52.2m for 2024/25 and £63.2m for 2025/26 financial year."