THIS has been a devastating time for young people.

Nothing is going their way, leaving them demoralised, demotivated and losing interest in education.

The tuition fees vote lost, students will have to accept obscene fees if they want a university education. But now even a college education is getting beyond the grasp of the most disadvantaged young people, compounded by two recent news stories.

Firstly the Government’s decision to scrap Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA): this grant was targeted at the poorest students to allow them to go to college with all the same opportunities that better-off students have.

As a student who did receive EMA and is now fortunate enough to be at university, I know how important it was in letting me carry on my studies without financial pressure. The next attack comes from the bus fare increases from GMITA which has lead to transport costs soaring.

Many students who take the bus to college will see the price rise from 80p a journey to much more. A typical example would be a student going from Heywood to Bury, a four-mile journey. Previously a day’s travel would have cost £1.60, now it stands at £2.60 from Bury Interchange to Heywood Centre, a whole £5 extra a week and running at £150 for a 30-week year at college.

This is way above inflation and unfair. This deadly cocktail of decisions will destroy youth aspirations, further alienating young people.

Liam O’Rourke Queens Park Road Heywood