Dudley’s MP offered new hope to a closure-threatened youth centre with the possibility of a lifeline from London.

The Meadow Road Youth and Venture Centre in Wren’s Nest has been battling for survival after Dudley Council proposed to cut £80,000 in funding in February. 

Campaigners started a petition and young people from the centre released a song calling for a rethink. Now MP Sonia Kumar, who raised the possible closure in the House of Commons, is hoping for help from the Chancellor of the Exchequer. 

Ms Kumar said: “They have got public funding for the moment, we are hoping to make sure it does not close down. “The youth service does fantastic work, I will fight tooth and nail to ensure this service stays in Dudley.” 

Chancellor Rachel Reeves MP will reveal details of a government spending revue in Parliament on June 11 and Ms Kumar believes there may be cash available for the centre.

Ms Kumar said: “I’m going to make sure we keep working with the council and government to see what we can do to help. At the spending review I’m hoping to look forward to some money for youth centres and hopefully some of that money goes to Dudley.” 

Supporters of the centre, which opens three times per week and is staffed by youth workers, say it is a vital service in a deprived part of the borough which is a safe place for around 200 young people to spend time.

Councillor Karl Denning, who represents the Castle and Priory ward, thinks closure would force young people onto the streets where they could become victims of crime or get into trouble with police. 

Cllr Denning said: “This would be a massive loss and put extra strain on the police, we are taking money from one thing but will be spending a lot on something else.”