THIS PETITION HAS NOW CLOSED AND SIGNATURES ADDED AFTER 1st JULY 2011 WILL NOT BE COUNTED. 

SIGNATORIES HAVE BEEN CHECKED AND VERIFIED, WITH ANY DUPLICATE SIGNATURES REMOVED AS APPROPRIATE.

A COPY OF THIS PETITION WILL NOW BE PRESENTED TO COUNCILLOR ROY PERRY, HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL, IN WHOSE AUTHORITY THIS CAMPAIGN STARTED.

A FURTHER COPY WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE EDUCATION SECRETARY, MR MICHAEL GOVE MP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTED THIS PETITION.  600+ SIGNATURES MAY NOT SEEM MANY, BUT THE COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN LEFT SPEAK FOR THOUSANDS.

Across the country local authorities are disbanding the highly successful Connexions service that has provided careers guidance and personal development support for young people aged 13-19 (25 with additional needs) for almost a decade.

Qualified advisers have worked in schools, 6th Forms, colleges and community settings enabling countless thousands of young people to enter education, employment and training, as well as positively overcome any difficulties that they may experience.

This is no longer good enough for the government or local authorities and, even where the service is continuing, it will disappear by 31st August 2011. After that date, schools will be given the option to 'buy in' services, but few schools are in a financial position to do so and are already making their own staffing cuts.

The government has promised a new all-age service, but that will not be operating nationally until April 2012 meaning that anyone making career choices in the next 12 months will do so without independent, impartial advice.

With rising tuition fees, any uninformed choices could prove an expensive mistake for young people, their parents and carers. Connexions must be saved for the benefit of our young people and the future of this country.