NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF YOUTH THEATRES

That this House recognises the groundbreaking work done by the National Association of Youth Theatres (NAYT) in supporting the work of 1,300 groups around the country which reach out to around 65,000 youngsters; commends the work done by NAYT in broadening the way that young people interact with theatre giving them the opportunity to gain experience in professional environments; believes that youth theatre gives young people the opportunity to mix with people from different social backgrounds and allows those from disenfranchised backgrounds to find positive role models; notes that the NAYT has had its funding withdrawn by the Department for Education and Arts Council England and is seeking new sources of funding through individual memberships to enable it to continue its work with young people; and calls on the Government to provide a strategyfor the arts so that young people are not disenfranchised.