Sir – While there has been a huge public outcry regarding the proposed closure of a number of local libraries by Oxfordshire County Council, it amazes me that there has been very little comment on their proposals to radically reorganise the way that they deliver youth services in the county, which puts a number of local youth work centres at high risk of closure.

As a community worker operating in one of the localities due to lose its youth work provision under these proposals I am seriously concerned about the impact that such plans will have on the young people and the local community in general.

Not only will the young people potentially lose their regular youth clubs (and so have nowhere to go and nothing to do), but also the support of a professional, highly trained, experienced and competent team of youth workers, who over a sustained period have developed relationships of mutual trust and respect with them.

Many of these young people live in an environment of social and material deprivation; struggle with issues such as low self-esteem, lack of aspiration and poor academic attainment, and are very vulnerable, fragile individuals who find it difficult to interact meaningfully with adults. It is totally unrealistic and unreasonable to expect volunteers to be able to work with such disaffected young people and offer them the level of support that they need. Simultaneously it is ludicrous to expect these young people to take the bus to centres in other parts of Oxford to access services.

It is my genuine fear that without local youth work provision, levels of anti-social behaviour, alcohol abuse, pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases will increase dramatically in the area as young people will be deprived of the input that channels their energies, keeps them purposefully occupied and which helps them to make reasoned choices.

Liz Edwards, Senior Community Worker, Cutteslowe Community Association