West Sussex County Council has confirmed that there is no funding for a new youth wing when Boundstone Community College is closed next year and is rebuilt as an academy by September, 2009.

Sponsors The Woodard Trust, who are paying for the new academy, have confirmed there will be space on the new campus for a youth wing but its budget has all been allocated to the rebuilding of the main school.

Adur Youth Council has set up an online petition to raise awareness and campaign to keep the youth wing open.

It opened in February, 1971, on the school site and more than 30 years later, the wing continues to be used by more than 500 young people a year.

It offers sessions for those aged up to 17, it runs Duke of Edinburgh's Award schemes, provides educational needs support, and provides a base for Adur Youth Council and local youth forums

Adur Youth Council secretary Lorna Sherriff said: "Losing the youth wing would result in the loss of one of only two statutory youth centres available to young people in the whole of lancing and Sompting - a total of 2,280 young people aged 13 to 18 would be affected by this.

"The youth council believes that the rebuilding of a youth wing on the academy site is essential to the young people of the school and the community.

"We have set up a site where you can add your name to the petition to save the wing."

Go to www.ipetitionscom/petition/boundstoneyouthwing

A West Sussex County Council spokesman said: "The funding allocation from government for the proposed new academy does not allow for facilities such as a youth centre as it is based on a standard central government building brief for a secondary school.

"The county council cabinet member for young people's services, Pat Arculus, has written to the Secretary of State, Ed Balls, to point out this issue and ask him to reconsidered the way funding is allocated.

"The academy project at Boundstone is still at the feasibility stage and the design has yet to be finalised. The county council realises how vital and valuable youth services are, however, there is still time for the government to help us provide services on the site in a cost-effective way that would be supported by all concerned.

"We are considering alternative options for retaining youth provision in the Lancing area in the future and will wish to discuss these further with the community, including young people, in the autumn, if further funding is not made available."

-------------------------------------
Click here to go back to Lancing news.

Where are you? Add your pin to the Herald's international readers' map by clicking here.

Email the Herald: letters@shorehamherald.co.uk