THE withdrawal of council funds for a Sandhurst performing arts club feels like a ‘kick in the teeth’ according to the group’s founder.

Redz club at The Spot has had it’s annual £4,500 grant from Bracknell Forest Council cut entirely as the borough faces reduced central government funding and the cost will be passed down to parents whose children attend the weekly class.

The weekly fee of £2 has been subsidised by the council since the group was set up eight years ago, but the price to families is set to double to £4 from April when funding runs out.

Despite the hardship, founder Neil Braybrooke-Tidy insists he is committed to continuing the group and is seeking out grants and awards to help with costs.

He said: “£4 may not sound a lot but we work in an area where young people come from privileged backgrounds and some come from not very privileged families. Some families have said it’s not a problem but others have come to me and said they might have to reconsider if their kids attend.

“The idea of Redz is to provide performing arts classes for any young person who wants to do it.

“It’s a bit of a kick in the teeth, I know why they have to do it but why do they have to save money on the things that matter?

“If we go back many years to kids standing on street corners people would complain about them, now we have groups of kids putting a show and the parents get involved too.”

A petition titled ‘Keep funding Redz@TheSpot’ has been set up to raise awareness of the group’s plight and gathered 117 signatures in just six days.
Bracknell Forest Council say the decision to end funding for the club was not taken lightly and pointed to the ‘difficult financial climate’.

Janette Karklins, director of children, young people and learning, said: “The council has been in discussion with Redz for some time regarding the funding provided to the organisation; our funding arrangement with them is due to expire at the end of the financial year.

“We do not take any decision to stop funding a service like Redz lightly but have to look at providing the best possible services for our residents against a difficult financial climate.

“We are grateful to Redz for all their hard work and dedication over the past few years.”

Bracknell Forest is having to find £12.4m of savings in the 2016/17 budget after unprecedented cuts were made to the revenue grant they receive from central government.