Young Concern Trust

I learnt an astonishing fact today -about £5 million pounds. I was at a special event for the launch of Young Concern Trust which does so much to help young people in Harlow. YCT - supported strongly by Harlow College - wants to set up a new youth counselling and support Unit at the former Dashes Family Support Centre. They need to raise £151,250, by next April, to achieve their aims. When completed, HYCT hope to provide essential services -(such as advice and mentoring to youths) - as well as providing a range of evening and weekend activities. It is a great concept, with real vision. Tremendous efforts are going into the fund-raising side and many YCT members are doing a sponsored walk to Southend Pier and back this weekend.

So what has £5 million pounds got to do with it? Well, Deborah Cadman, Chief Executive of the East of England Development Agency, made an important speech at today's event, welcoming HYCT, saying that it was vital that such organisations existed to strengthen the community. She then let loose a horrifying figure: £5 million a day is spent in the East of England on Unemployment Benefit. Her point was that, if the community was active in giving young people the skills they needed for work, this £5 million would not be needed to be spent on benefits, but on public services instead. This was a point well made. You cannot have a vibrant economy without a vibrant community. You can't have real financial capital, without long lasting social capital. That is why HYCT deserves all our support.