YOUTH workers who run weekly sessions for disabled youngsters across the borough have been told they may lose their jobs.

Dudley Council is reviewing the borough's youth provision and is considering bringing in voluntary organisations to run the sessions.

Bosses say some "difficult decisions" have had to be made around youth services as part of a savings programme and as a result, youth workers currently at the helm of the sessions at Lower Gornal Youth Centre, The Source Youth Centre in Wordsley and Stourbridge Children's Centre have been told they may be placed at risk of redundancy.

But Vicky Lovelock, whose daughter Jamie-Lee Brocklehurst has attended the session in Lower Gornal for the last three years, said that losing the current staff would have a devastating effect on the young people.

Miss Lovelock, who lives in Kates Hill, said: "We're not going down without a fight. The youth workers are all trained and experienced, they know these young people and understand their needs.

"Parents aren't going to use a service run by volunteers as their children would have to start all over again, introducing them to new people. These kids aren't going to take to strangers."

She said 18-year-old Jamie-Lee, who has a string of physical and mental disabilities, had "built bonds" with her youth workers and added: "She loves going there, it gives her a bit of independence."

Councillor Anne Millward, cabinet member for children’s services, stressed that the council had no intention of closing the sessions, adding: "We are very keen to ensure they continue running."

She continued: "A number of voluntary sector groups are currently involved in the delivery of these sessions so we are keen to support these groups to continue.

“No firm decisions have been made and we are still consulting.

"We do know, however, that there is capacity and willingness within the voluntary sector to offer similar opportunities, particularly in relation to the disability groups.

"We expect there will be minimal impact on existing sessions.

“Our role has always been, and will remain, to support and empower voluntary organisations to deliver this work.”

Cllr Millward added: "It could be that we don't go down this path. I understand that relationships have been built up and that some children don't like change but the world does not stand still for anyone.

"Things do change, people do move on but this will be taken into consideration and no decision will be made under my watch until the boxes are ticked for everybody.

"We will keep a good service, it could even be a better service in the end."