Huge council cuts have forced the closure of a Wycombe community service aimed at helping unemployed and vulnerable young people.

Connexions Buckinghamshire, with centres in High Wycombe and Aylesbury, will close their doors to young people in need on Thursday, March 24.

The two centres, which have been on the high streets for more than a decade, are closing as budgets were more than halved by Buckinghamshire County Council (BCC) for 2016/17.

This comes as funding cuts from the government forcing BCC to reduce or completely cut their support for community services in an effort to make £53 million of savings.

In 2016/17 the council is attempting to save around £1.75 million through reducing funds to community-based services.

Connexions is a local authority funded service for young people who are at risk of becoming, or are already, unemployed and not in education or training.

Despite the cuts, the service will still continue and be operating under the name Adviza. Staff will now meet young people at libraries, job centres, coffee shops and even at homes.

Adviza is the non-profit organisation commissioned by BCC to manage Connexions.

Councillor Zahir Mohammed, a cabinet member for education and skills, visited the Connexions centre in High Wycombe last week, and told staff that despite the centres closing he was pleased that the service would continue under Adviza.

He admitted that the council had faced some very tough decisions in this year’s budgeting process.

Katharine Horler, Adviza’s CEO, thanked Mr Mohammed for his help to prevent cuts to the Time to Talk youth counselling service, which is also managed by Adviza.

He successfully secured transitional funds for that project.

Cuts will also impact school budgets. BCC funding will now only cover support for learners with special educational needs or Education, Health and Care Plans (ECHPs) and not pupils at risk of leaving school without work, training or further education.