Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, and Minister for Children, Young People and Families, Beverly Hughes MP, announced last month that there was to be a £79 million funding package for young Londoners and how this investment will benefit each of London's 33 local authorities.

The Mayor said, "this £79 million funding will provide real alternatives to life on the streets, giving young Londoners more places to go and things to do. Just as we have invested in public transport and put police back on the streets, this funding will begin to reverse the decline of facilities for young people in the capital".  Details of how local organisations can bid for the Innovation and Development Fund are hopefully to be released towards the end of January 08.

Ken was criticised by Boris Johnson about the recent figures on youth crime, including the increased numbers of shootings and stabbings in 2007 amongst young people.  He believes that investing in 54 new afterschool clubs is a step towards reducing youth crime and encouraging young londoners to get involved in local community activities.