Youth providers, young people and families came together this week to highlight the impacts on recent funding cuts which will affect their sector.
On Monday night, youth organisations across North Belfast left their centres and travelled to Girdwood Hub. They did so to send out a "strong sign of togetherness" whilst also providing a platform for those in attendance to hear the potential impacts from the views of young people.
Centres in each council area of Northern Ireland are currently applying for funds from the Education Authority, which provides funding for such facilities. However, the EA has indicated that many youth centres are set to receive less funding for next year.
A spokesperson for New Lodge Youth Centre said: "The cuts proposed will entail local youth organisations losing close to £33,000 per year which will decimate local provision for young people.
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"These cuts will result in the loss of 25% of the previous two years' funding, a loss of up to 50% of youth work staff, reduction of two opening nights, loss of summer programmes and no outreach provision.
"In response to these cuts, with a great understanding of the pending impact, youth organisations across the country have collaborated in hope that these cuts can be overturned."
In response to the awareness walk, a spokesperson for the Education Authority said: "The Education Authority fully understand the vital role youth services play in all communities.
"We will work to minimise the risk to these really important services against the backdrop of very significant financial challenges."
SDLP councillor Paul McCusker said: "Youth services should not have to worry about their funding, they need investment and long-term commitment from the education authority to secure jobs and allow youth services to continue to provide vital services to young people."
Sinn Féin's John Finucane called on the EA to "reverse their current proposals".
"Myself and Gerry Kelly MLA walked with Ardoyne Youth Club and hundred others in protest against the proposed Education Authority cuts," he said.
"The impact these brutal cuts will have across Belfast will be devastating for our young people. EA needs to listen to those this will effect and reverse their current proposals."
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