Latest news with #NatashaIrons
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Handling of youth service cuts plan an 'insult'
The lack of public consultation into Croydon Council's handling of proposed youth service cuts is an "insult" to young people and their families, Labour MP Natasha Irons has said. The Croydon East MP said the Conservative-led authority's approach shut out the very voices that should have been heard. The council's Youth Engagement Team (YET) provides support and education services to young people living, working, or attending schools in Croydon, as well as their families. A Croydon Council spokesperson said: "We are seeking to change the service to maximise help and support for the young people who need it most and in the most effective way." Croydon Council asks for £136m government bailout Met drops probe into council's financial woes The YET acts as a bridge between the council, voluntary organisations and young people to offer support including through a weekly youth hub in New Addington. Charlene, a parent from New Addington, raised concerns about how the council's consultation was carried out and whether it genuinely captured young people's views. "Two middle-aged white ladies came to the youth club. They didn't ask things in a way that gave [my son] the opportunity to express what he really felt," she told the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Charlene described the New Addington youth club as essential to her children's development, adding: "The staff do such a good job at making everything seem conversational and natural. That's what makes the team so phenomenal at what it does and why it's so popular with the children." The council - then run by Labour - began an internal consultation with staff in December following a decision to reduce core funding for the YET in March 2022. Despite calls for a public consultation, no official announcement was made inviting families or residents to participate, according to the LDRS. Ms Irons said she called for wider community involvement but was told the consultation had already closed. "Croydon deserves a transparent public consultation process, not this backdoor approach, which leaves us with more questions than answers," she said in a statement. "The report due to be published by the council this month must clearly outline how it plans to protect youth services in areas like New Addington and ensure that young people across Croydon have access to the support and resources they deserve." Council declared bankrupt for third time A Croydon Council spokesperson told the LDRS it had consulted with staff, parents, schools, young people and voluntary sector partners throughout the review, adding that its wider investment in youth services, including £271,000 in Violence Reduction Unit funding, was distributed in 2023. A further £200,000 has been committed for 2025-26 to support youth outreach and mentoring through local community organisations, the council said. Its consultation report will be discussed at a scrutiny meeting on 13 May. Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to Croydon Council
BBC News
10-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Croydon Council criticised over youth service cuts communications
The lack of public consultation into Croydon Council's handling of proposed youth service cuts is an "insult" to young people and their families, Labour MP Natasha Irons has Croydon East MP said the Conservative-led authority's approach shut out the very voices that should have been council's Youth Engagement Team (YET) provides support and education services to young people living, working, or attending schools in Croydon, as well as their families.A Croydon Council spokesperson said: "We are seeking to change the service to maximise help and support for the young people who need it most and in the most effective way." The YET acts as a bridge between the council, voluntary organisations and young people to offer support including through a weekly youth hub in New a parent from New Addington, raised concerns about how the council's consultation was carried out and whether it genuinely captured young people's views. "Two middle-aged white ladies came to the youth club. They didn't ask things in a way that gave [my son] the opportunity to express what he really felt," she told the Local Democracy Reporting described the New Addington youth club as essential to her children's development, adding: "The staff do such a good job at making everything seem conversational and natural. That's what makes the team so phenomenal at what it does and why it's so popular with the children." 'Backdoor approach' The council - then run by Labour - began an internal consultation with staff in December following a decision to reduce core funding for the YET in March calls for a public consultation, no official announcement was made inviting families or residents to participate, according to the Irons said she called for wider community involvement but was told the consultation had already closed. "Croydon deserves a transparent public consultation process, not this backdoor approach, which leaves us with more questions than answers," she said in a statement."The report due to be published by the council this month must clearly outline how it plans to protect youth services in areas like New Addington and ensure that young people across Croydon have access to the support and resources they deserve." A Croydon Council spokesperson told the LDRS it had consulted with staff, parents, schools, young people and voluntary sector partners throughout the review, adding that its wider investment in youth services, including £271,000 in Violence Reduction Unit funding, was distributed in 2023. A further £200,000 has been committed for 2025-26 to support youth outreach and mentoring through local community organisations, the council consultation report will be discussed at a scrutiny meeting on 13 May.
BBC News
09-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
MPs call for railway review in Croydon Area Remodelling Scheme
MPs have made fresh calls to overhaul two south London railway stations as part of a review into the Brighton mainline. During a parliamentary debate on the Croydon Area Remodelling Scheme (CARS), Labour's Croydon East MP Natasha Irons and Crawley MP Peter Lamb called for the plans to be reviewed after they were delayed - by the pandemic, by changes in passenger behaviour and by funding MPs argued that without changes to East Croydon and Norwood Junction stations, efforts to improve or expand would be severely said further delays could "hold back economic growth for the coast-to-capital region". Initially proposed in 2020, CARS was intended to relieve the bottleneck in the Croydon area on the Brighton mainline, a key route between London and the south coast, the Local Democracy Reporting Service Rail said the issues were caused by "a lack of capacity" at East Croydon station and "the complex series of junctions" north of Croydon, but argued CARS would deliver a faster, more reliable service with improved told the Commons two new platforms would be added at East Croydon station along with a larger concourse to improve facilities and connections to local transport said it would also modernise Norwood Junction station by extending the platforms and add a footbridge with a lift. Lamb said many Crawley residents depend on the Brighton mainline for their daily commute, and the service they face is becoming "more cramped and unreliable every year". She added that without investment, conditions will continue to worsen, "and by 2040, there may not be any space left for passengers at all". During the debate the two MPs also referred to the expansion of Gatwick Airport and the current Labour government's shift towards greater public ownership of the rail network to support their argument for CARS to be looked at argued that delaying CARS would hinder growth and impact the regions between London, Crawley and Gatwick."If anything, the expansion of Gatwick Airport makes addressing the capacity challenges at East Croydon station even more critical," Irons said. She told MPs if the project moved forward, it could also help facilitate the development of the "Croydon opportunity area" - earmarked for 14,500 new homes and 10,500 new jobs by 2041. In response, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Transport, Simon Lightwood, said he regretted that he was unable to comment on individual projects until the spending review has concluded in June.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
London museums given culture funding
Two London museums are to receive government funding as part of a culture department funding award. The London Museum of Water and Steam in Brentford, west London, has been given £2.6m while the Foundling Museum in Camden, north-west London, will get £320,000. Natasha Irons, Labour MP for Croydon East, said the money will "allow them to carry out crucial repairs and continue their excellent work". The money announced on Thursday includes a pot worth £120m, which will be available to venues including the British Museum and National Gallery, which both get their regular annual funding from the Department of Culture Media and Sport. Both will also receive a 5% increase in their annual grants. Ms Irons added: "In London and across the country, Labour is investing in arts and culture for all." Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to Struggling English museums get rescue funds London Museum receives additional £50m for new home Museum preserves foundling stories
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
London museums given culture funding
Two London museums are to receive government funding as part of a culture department funding award. The London Museum of Water and Steam in Brentford, west London, has been given £2.6m while the Foundling Museum in Camden, north-west London, will get £320,000. Natasha Irons, Labour MP for Croydon East, said the money will "allow them to carry out crucial repairs and continue their excellent work". The money announced on Thursday includes a pot worth £120m, which will be available to venues including the British Museum and National Gallery, which both get their regular annual funding from the Department of Culture Media and Sport. Both will also receive a 5% increase in their annual grants. Ms Irons added: "In London and across the country, Labour is investing in arts and culture for all." Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to Struggling English museums get rescue funds London Museum receives additional £50m for new home Museum preserves foundling stories
