A LEADING city councillor has questioned new contracts for youth services in Hull that have left a question mark over the long-term future of The Warren.
The city centre charity says it is facing an uncertain future as it struggles to meet day-to-day running costs.
The Mail has launched a campaign to help maintain its work.
Core funding for the long-established youth project has been reduced under new contracts agreed by the city council for services for young people in Hull.
Councillor Mike Ross, deputy leader of the opposition Liberal Democrat group, said: "It is a worry that such a valued organisation feels it is at risk as a result of these new contracts.
"Our group was not privy to the procurement process, but I am aware there were even concerns about it among some senior Labour councillors."
Councillor Terry Geraghty, portfolio for leisure, culture and youth facilities, said: "Sadly, it's the same story for everyone, not just The Warren.
"As I've said repeatedly, I do not want to cut anything, but the council has had huge amounts of funding taken away from it by the Government in the past couple of years.
"We can only work with the money we get in and, unfortunately, that pot of money is much smaller than it used to be.
"We had to look at making savings across the board during the commissioning process for these new contracts.
"Some places, such as The Warren, have at least got some funding. Others haven't got anything yet. I know they also do some fantastic work with young people."
Cllr Geraghty, who was not involved in the recent commissioning process, has recently been handed respon- sibility for youth services at the council.
He said: "When these contracts come up again, I would like to see much more involvement from the Health and Wellbeing Board and other health organisations.
"A lot of the work The Warren and other places do is health-related, whether it is alcohol or drugs misuse.
"In my opinion, money for that kind of thing should come from health, not the city council."
The new two-year contracts were awarded last month.
Each one has an option to be extended for a further year.
Together, they will see the council spend just under £850,000 next year on three area-based contracts and one that covers the whole of the city.
The Warren is included in a successful £269,860 contract, which also includes the Goodwin Development Partnership and the Hessle Road Network.
The three organisations will be responsible for delivering youth services to 14 to 24-year- olds in west Hull, which includes the city centre.
The new citywide youth services contract, worth £144,398, has been awarded to Bolton-based ABL Health, a GP-led organisation specialising in health and education services.
Last year, ABL won a new contract to deliver birth preparation and parent education classes in Hull by the city's NHS Clinical Commissioning Group.
£1.7m to deliver youth servicesHull City Council is set to spend almost £1.7m over the next two years on commissioning youth services in Hull.
The services will all be delivered by external organisations.
The Warren was part of a successful joint bid to provide services for 14 to 24-year-olds along with the Goodwin Development Trust and the Hessle Road Network.
Like most of the contracts, it will be area-based, covering west Hull.
Under the criteria, that includes the city centre.
However, until now, The Warren has been regarded as delivering citywide services.
The only city-wide contract in the new system has gone to ABL Health to deliver health and education programmes.
The Child Dynamix Partnership will deliver youth services in east Hull, while the north Hull services will be jointly run by the St Michael's Youth Project in Orchard Park, the church-based New Life Support group, Bransholme Commercial Services and the Bridges Hull charity in north Bransholme.
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