Mike's Columns in the Portsmouth News
Support good work done by Young People
I have found it both interesting and inspiring in recent weeks to visit a number of projects that are working with young people in Portsmouth. At V Challenge at Bransbury Park, for example, they help young people get involved in volunteering to help charities, raise money for good causes and improve the local environment.
Meanwhile, at the Pompey Study Centre, the football club’s innovative “communicating for success” project uses the appeal of football to help children improve their reading skills and is having great results.
Young people are often much criticised. But my visits to these projects showed me that many are working hard not only to get a good education but also improve and contribute to their communities - helped by many dedicated people not only in these projects but many other schemes, schools and centres across the city.
So, I hope the Budget on Wednesday will continue to support schools and young people. This is not a time to cut back on education and training. Indeed quite the reverse. Under the Conservatives, there were sometimes not even enough textbooks to go round. So, I do welcome more investment in education by this Government. But more needs to be done. It was disappointing for example to learn that 160,000 children left primary school last year without even having basic competency in Maths and English. Or that money is running out to fund the apprenticeship scheme in this academic year.
I have also been surveying local businesses ahead of the budget. And early results from this show that many think the Government needs to do much more to support them through these tough economic times.
There is no doubt that the Government face a very great challenge in this year’s Budget. To rise to that challenge, they need to back businesses. Support our young people. Give ordinary people an income tax cut to both help them through the recession and boost the economy. And help pensioners who have had inflation in previous years eat into their savings and pensions. Let’s hope for the country’s sake that Brown and Darling are up for the challenge they face.
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