The number of teenagers joining violent street gangs could increase if an award-winning charity is denied vital funding by Hackney council.

Chance UK, a mental health body which helps troubled and deprived youngsters, has been told it will not receive its annual £65,000 payout. It means the charity will have to slash the number of people it helps by half.

The funding cut comes despite recent reports that kids who do not get help for their behavioural problems early in life are more likely to end up involved in crime, drugs and street gangs.

Jo Hobbs, National Development Manager, said: “It is an incredibly disappointing decision which doesn’t make sense. The major political parties are all pushing for early intervention work with children with behavioural problems because they believe it will help reduce gun and knife crime.

“It is very short-sighted of Hackney council to reduce such vital funding in an area that is one of the worst affected in the country by these crimes.”

The charity, which primarily helps children aged 5-11, has also been told that the council is reducing its funding retrospectively from April last year, which Jo points out means it could be left in debt during the credit crunch period. The charity will have to make at least one redundancy.

Chance UK is attempting to reverse the decision by presenting a petition to the council. So far volunteers have collected 600 signatures, but they are gunning for 1000 by the end of the week.

Jo said: “We are encouraged by the amount of support we have had. We help kids who are expelled from school because they are violent towards teachers and pupils, so people seem to realise it is important to help change their behaviour.”

The charity will meet with a council representative today to discuss the next step in its fight for funding.

Hackney Council declined to comment.

Image taken from Daniel Y Go on Flickr.