Tens of thousands of young people across England are set to benefit from a major expansion of the government's Young Futures Hubs programme, designed to provide joined-up support for mental health, employment, skills development and crime prevention.
The initiative will see 42 new Young Futures Hubs established by local authorities across England, building on eight early adopter hubs already in operation. The move forms a central part of the government's wider effort to improve outcomes for young people and ensure services work together more effectively.
The hubs will offer a single access point for young people facing some of the most pressing challenges today, including poor mental health, unemployment and serious violence. By bringing multiple services under one roof, the programme aims to eliminate the need for young people to repeatedly explain their circumstances to different providers.
Alongside open access to sport, creative activities and youth work provision, each hub will provide mental health support, skills training, employment pathways and crime prevention services. The hubs will support young people aged 10 to 18, extending to 25 for those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.
The expansion was announced by Lisa Nandy, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, as part of the government's long-term National Youth Strategy, Youth Matters, launched in December 2025.
The strategy was developed alongside 14,000 young people through a nationwide State of the Nation survey, which highlighted growing concerns around mental health, social isolation and the lack of safe spaces for young people to connect and thrive.
The government says more than £500 million has been committed through the strategy to rebuild and strengthen youth services over the next decade, with a focus on empowering local communities to shape services around local needs.
The new funding will also be delivered through the Local Youth Transformation programme, helping councils strengthen leadership capabilities, develop workforce skills and establish sustainable local partnerships to provide high-quality youth services.
To mark the announcement, newly appointed Minister for Young People Vicky Foxcroft visited the Manchester Young Futures Hub, which has been operating since April 2026.
The Manchester model provides physical activity programmes, informal education, enterprise support, social activities and mental health services delivered through a network of community-based venues.
Minister for Young People, Vicky Foxcroft said:
“We need to do something different to ensure that young people are supported to thrive. By co-creating every Young Futures Hub and Transformation plan with young people, we are ensuring they are the architects of their own future.
“It was wonderful to see first-hand the difference the Manchester Young Futures Hub is already making. By backing local authorities and their partners to build services that work, we’re making sure that wherever you grow up in England, you have somewhere to go, something to do, and someone to talk to.”
The Young Futures Hubs sit within a broader package of government investment aimed at improving opportunities and outcomes for young people across England.
Key measures include:
- £132 million for the Every Child Can programme, providing in-person activities during weekends and school holidays ahead of the planned social media restrictions for under-16s.
- £22.5 million for the Enrichment Expansion Programme, supporting up to 400 schools in disadvantaged communities to meet new Department for Education enrichment standards.
- The rollout of Youth Hubs in more than 360 locations across Great Britain, helping 16 to 24-year-olds access employment support, skills training and career opportunities.
- Closer collaboration between Young Futures Hubs and the government's Halving Knife Crime Plan, including support for at-risk young people through multi-agency Young Futures Panels.
- More than £400 million for new and improved community sports facilities, alongside a £10 million contribution to The King's Trust youth opportunities programme, backed by Sir Gareth Southgate, and Sport England's £250 million investment in youth sport and physical activity.
Further announcements are expected in the coming weeks, including elements of the government's response to the forthcoming review into young people and work, led by Alan Milburn.
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