Young people are at risk of not getting the help they need after a key charity which supports hundreds of volunteers in the youth sector saw its funding cut.

Pro Action work behind the scenes to provide more than 300 youth clubs and projects across Hertfordshire but the charity was recently told it was losing 67 per cent of its funding from Hertfordshire County Council.

The loss of funding, which comes into play in April, could see the charity shut as early as the end of June.

Pro-Action Herts is to become another victim of the drastic funding cuts inflicted by Hertfordshire County Council on the voluntary sector and will close its doors in June 2019.

The small team at Pro-Action has more than 150 years of experience in the youth sector between them. Pro-Action provides a training programme, with discounted rates for volunteers, in essential areas, such as safeguarding. They are also an umbrella body for enhanced DBS checks, to ensure those working in the sector can safely recruit.

Jill Eaton of Sporting Futures Training, a member of Pro-Action for many years, said: “We feel strongly that the closure of Pro-Action will greatly impact negatively on the communities throughout which they serve. Our question would be where will you get the support we need with regards to both delivery and access to securing the DBS safeguarding checks that we need on a daily basis?”

The county council says it is working with Pro Action to find a solution.

Cllr Teresa Heritage, cabinet member for children, young people & families, said: “Along with the rest of local authorities in the UK, Hertfordshire County Council’s budgets continue to come under pressure and we need to review our services regularly to ensure we’re continuing to provide good value for money with limited resources.

“Unfortunately, as part of this process, we are unable to fund some of Pro-Action’s services at the same level we had been previously. We are working with Pro Action to try to find a solution for the loss of the reduced funding.

“Our 2018/19 ‘Supporting Young People in Hertfordshire’ report, outlines our approach which is to work alongside and support the development of local voluntary organisations who are leading on and providing some of our youth support groups and services in the county.”

A Just Giving page has been set up to support Pro Action which can be viewed at https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/pro-actionherts?utm_term=JydwzgpwB