'Young Futures' hub aimed at cutting crime rates among at risk teens to open in Leeds

Under the Government’s National Youth Strategy, Youth Matters, the first eight of 50 planned Young Futures Hubs will shortly open in Birmingham, Brighton, Bristol, Durham, Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham and Tower Hamlets.

The network of 50 hubs nationwide will provide joined-up support for young people, the Hubs bring together services including mental health and wellbeing, employment support, and crime, including knife crime prevention, all under one roof.

Young Futures Leeds will be primarily based at Barca Leeds in Bramley, with additional ‘spokes’ sites at LS-TEN in south Leeds and Imagination Station in east Leeds.

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.”

Young people aged 10-18 (and up to 25 for those with SEND) in targeted areas with high levels of anti-social behaviour and knife crime, will be able to access trusted adult mentors, careers guidance, and positive activities such as sport, arts and volunteering.

Hubs will build on existing services, and create safe, welcoming spaces aimed at helping 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.

Next week the Government will launch its plan to halve knife crime within a decade to save lives, transform the futures of young people and protect communities across the country.

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 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 per cent since 2010.

In some areas, the Hubs will work with new multi-agency Young Futures Panels, bringing together the police, children’s services, schools, and community organisations, to identify vulnerable children at risk of knife crime early, spot risks that may otherwise go unnoticed, and ensure they are quickly referred into the right support before issues escalate.

“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,” Sarah Jones, Policing Minister, added.

“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 hubs, targeted in areas with high levels of anti-social behaviour and knife crime, will:

• Transform the lives of young people, cut crime and protect communities
• Divert them away from knife crime and anti-social behaviour
• Provide them with services and advice to combat social isolation, mental health and unemployment
• Give access to safe, trusted adults