ST KILDA Youth Services is not giving up the fight over $220,000 in funding slashed from its flagship program.

The Hospitality Education and Training program offers a stable career path for troubled youth, in partnership with local restaurants.

The Napthine government stopped funding the program from June 30, in a shock decision reported in the Leader last month.

SKYS chief executive Emma Crichton said the organisation was in negotiations with the government and hoped funding could be reinstated for 2014-15.

In the meantime, the charity is relying on the goodwill of its supporters in the community to keep going.

Ms Chricton said while the uncertainty was tough on participants, "we're trying to work as much as possible to the status quo".

The HEAT program has broad support from local police, traders and welfare organisations, and is credited with keeping troubled youth out of jail.

Its patron is celebrity chef Guy Grossi.

The Certificate II program trains at-risk youth in hospitality, through work experience, mentoring and hands-on training.

Chief executive Emma Crichton said the funding was "critical" to the program, which "drastically improves" the lives of the city's most disadvantaged young people.

Ms Crichton said 60 people pass through the program each year, gaining "discipline, self-esteem and employment skills".

She said 80 per cent of participants went on to find jobs, allowing them to live productive lives and "avoid all the harms of unemployment" such as the risk of falling into a life of crime.

The cuts sparked community uproar, with supporters rallying outside Parliament House demanding they be reversed.

An online fundraising campaign has until August 8 to raise $15,000 to help keep the program afloat while negotiations continue.

Read more about SKYS:

SKYS a game changer for troubled youth.