PARENTS could have to fork out for after-school and holiday activities for children which used to be provided for free.

Blackburn with Darwen Council is proposing to establish a strategic youth alliance responsible for coordinating activities and provision for the borough during term-time and key holiday periods.

But bosses have warned there could be a potential cost to access provision they previously got for free.

Provision was previously handled directly by the council’s young people’s service but that has been withdrawn to meet a £313,000 savings target.

The proposal is to establish a three-way partnership between the council, Blackburn Youth Zone (BYZ) and Blackburn Rovers Community Trust (BRCT).

To maximise resources each partner organisation will contribute to a universal neighbourhood and holiday provision which will include the council investing £150,000 with 100 per cent match funding from BRCT and additional resources will be provided by BYZ to contribute to delivering the neighbourhood offer.

Executive member for children's services, Cllr Maureen Bateson, said: "There is potential of an initial reduction in provision to young people following the withdrawal of direct universal delivery from the council’s young people’s service.

"However, there is scope to increase local provision once external funding is secured, the strategic youth alliance will be better placed to work collaboratively to attract funding which traditionally is not available to the local authority."

The board will be supported by a youth alliance network consisting of key youth sector partners already delivering in neighbourhoods to increase the provision available to children and young people.

The council will initially lead the board and establish key governance and monitoring arrangements.