Young people and councillors in Croydon are raising concerns over the council’s decision to restructure its Youth Engagement Team (YET), fearing it could leave them vulnerable.

Critics, including Croydon East MP Natasha Irons, accuse the council of ignoring the loss of vital services that help prevent crime and gang grooming. The YET has been instrumental in supporting young people, offering everything from gang prevention to leadership workshops. Its numerous programs are designed to empower Croydon’s youth, which figures show is the largest in London.

Irons, along with Croydon’s Labour councillors, are now calling for more clarity from the council, particularly around how it plans to help the charity sector step in and fill the gap. She said: “If we’re asking the charitable sector to step up then the public should be able to help shape what it is we are asking the charitable sector to do. Have we asked our young people what they want to see from it.”

Sixth-formers Johan Prinsloo and Hayley Norman, who have led campaigns like tree planting and litter picking, were also stunned by the council’s plans. Johan said, “It feels like Croydon council shuts things down every week. They’ve done this at a time when it’s hard to respond.”