Andrew Dismore

In response to the Mayor’s announcement that Whitefield School  in Barnet will receive a portion of his ‘Young Londoners Fund’ to set up a Stepping Stones programme, aimed at helping the most vulnerable local pupils with the transition to secondary school, local London Assembly Member Andrew Dismore AM said:

“The transition between primary and secondary school can be a difficult and testing time for some children. However, with the extra helping hand that the Stepping Stones programme and summer school provides, it can also empower the most vulnerable young Londoners to make the leap to a higher level of academic and personal independence.

“In the wake of sustained government cuts that have decimated our capital’s youth services, the summer school also offers invaluable free, educational activities during the holidays to divert the most at-risk young people from getting caught up in crime.

“The Mayor has clearly acknowledged the importance of early intervention, taking swift and stringent action to play his part in tackling inequality in our communities by introducing his £45m Young Londoners Fund.”

Childs Hill Councillor Anne Clarke said:

“The local community know Sadiq Khan is on our side – he has made grants to other local projects like Clitterhouse Farm. But there is nowhere near enough support from the Government, who have so far failed to allocate any of their £22 million Early Intervention Fund, and are still looking to cut millions from school budgets. Most local schools are struggling to make ends meet and some are even setting deficit budgets. Schools in Barnet will have lost £10.5M due to budget cuts by 2020.”