First wave of national Young Futures Hubs open to turn the tide on youth services decline
|
First eight ‘Young Futures Hubs' opening in Birmingham, Brighton
and Hove, Bristol, County Durham, Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham,
and Tower Hamlets Part of the National Youth Strategy, a network of
50 Hubs will provide joined-up services across mental health and
wellbeing, employment and crime prevention Next week the Government
will launch its plan to halve knife crime within a decade to save
lives, transform the...Request free
trial
Young people in eight locations across England are to benefit from the first 'Young Futures Hubs' opened by the Government. The hubs, targeted in areas with high levels of anti-social behaviour and knife crime, will:
Under the government's National Youth Strategy, Youth Matters, the first eight of 50 Young Futures Hubs have opened or will shortly open in Birmingham, Brighton, Bristol, Durham, Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham and Tower Hamlets. Hubs will build on existing services, and create safe, welcoming spaces bringing a range of local support services under one roof. Young people aged 10-18 (and up to 25 for those with SEND) will have access to trusted adults who will provide wellbeing support, careers guidance, and positive activities like sport, arts and volunteering. The government is committed to ensuring that success for young people is not determined by their background, and the hubs will also offer support for vulnerable children. These activities help divert young people away from knife crime and anti-social behaviour, as well as combat social isolation and mental health, and increase access to job opportunities for young people. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: "The closure of over a thousand youth centres since 2010 didn't just take away facilities, it took away community, connection and opportunity for a generation. We are determined to rebuild that. “These hubs are about more than bricks and mortar, they're a statement that this government believes in young people and is investing in their futures. What makes them different is that we're joining things up - wellbeing support, crime prevention, work coaches, youth services, all in one place. “We're making sure teenagers have somewhere to go, someone to talk to, and a real chance to thrive." This comes as the Government launches its plan to halve knife crime within a decade. Titled “‘Protecting Lives, Building Hope”, it will save lives, transform the futures of young people and protect communities across the country. The Government will support young people so they get the best start in life, stop those at risk from turning to knife crime and police our streets to catch and punish perpetrators. In some areas, the Hubs will work with new multi-agency Young Futures Panels, to ensure children at risk of knife crime are provided with the support they need. The panels bring together the police, children's services, schools, and community organisations to identify vulnerable children early, spot risks that may otherwise go unnoticed, and ensure they are quickly referred into the right support before issues escalate. Sarah Jones, Policing Minister, said: “Knife crime devastates lives. Behind every statistic is a child who didn't make it home, a family whose world has been shattered, and a community left with fear. This Government will halve knife crime within a decade, saving lives and protecting communities. We will roll out Young Future Hubs in crime hotspots across the country to divert young people from violence, cut crime and protect communities.” The Prime Minister has spoken of how young people have become “collateral damage” over the past decade, prompting the launch of the National Youth Strategy - the first in 15 years. The ambitious 10-year plan to rebuild youth services is backed by over £500 million of investment, and was designed in collaboration with more than 14,000 young people across England. £70 million will be invested to establish 50 Young Futures hubs and transform local youth services, rebuilding Local Authority capability after a decade of declining investment, with spending falling by 73% since 2010. As a result, many young people have been left without access to safe, supportive environments or a community to belong to, while reliance on online interaction has grown in the absence of face-to-face opportunities. Minister for Youth and Civil Society Stephanie Peacock said: "When this Government developed the National Youth Strategy, we listened to over 14,000 young people from across the country. What came through clearly was that they wanted somewhere to go, something to do, and someone who cares. Young Futures Hubs are part our response to this and we are delighted to see the first eight up and running. Hubs are places where young people can belong, with trusted adults and positive activities all under one roof. Keeping young people safe and away from crime starts with making sure they have the right support around them, and that's exactly what these hubs deliver." The Young Futures Hubs programme has been designed to respond directly to these challenges by creating welcoming, youth-led spaces where young people can enjoy real-life connections, with somewhere to go, something to do, and someone who cares for them. From the Barca Leeds in Bramley to the Full Circle Docklands in Bristol, each hub has been co-designed with young people themselves, ensuring the atmosphere and activities reflect their true needs and passions. The eight Young Futures Hubs have opened or will shortly open in the following locations:
More information on specific provision at each site is available on request. ENDS Notes to editors
|