A BOROUGH councillor plans to picket a youth drop-in facility in protest of its £56,000 funding cut by Hampshire County Council.

Councillor Iris Andersen has vehemently defended The Junction and the support they provide to young people in Andover.

The councillor for St Marys’ ward said: “I will support them in every way I can because I’ve been there, I’ve been involved with them and there are some talented people at The Junction.

“The hard work the people in The Junction do is unbelievable. They need support.

“I feel as an elderly resident if I need help I can go and speak to Neighbourcare for any support, or Age UK, so why can’t young people have this support service?

“It’s really sad for them, it’s a community hub and it’s somewhere for them to go and talk to someone.

“I’ll support them and picket for them, it’s a very much needed thing and I’m very much for it.”

Councillor Andersen said that she, along with the staff and users of The Junction, will be picketing at The Junction tomorrow at 1.30pm.

As previously reported by this paper, the future of the drop-in centre hangs in the balance after the county council announced plans to cut funding by £56,000 next financial year.

The Junction said it is hopeful the council will listen to young people who say they would be living on the streets if the service was not there.

Jane, who is in her early 20s, was forced to leave home after suffering physical abuse at the hands of a family member.

She said: “The Junction have helped me with so much over the years.

“I don’t have family in Andover but I know I can always get support from the staff.

“Without them I would have had nowhere to go.”

After seeking help from The Junction team, Alabaré, the charity behind the centre, were able to help Jane find a home at Sarum House, a supported housing project for vulnerable and homeless young people.

She later enrolled at a college and eventually moved into her own home.

Centre manager, Paula Philp, said: “Jane was facing the nightmare of living rough on the street when we first met her.

“The recent loss of council funding has left us with a shortfall of £56,000 for next year, and we simply don’t see how we will be able to keep the centre’s doors open.

“We are so grateful for all the encouragement that we are being given.

“Many people are as passionate about keeping the centre open for our town’s vulnerable young people as we are.

“I would ask everyone who can to write to our county councillors to ask them to reconsider the cuts.”