County Durham selected for new Government youth hub

The new facility, part of the Government’s National Youth Strategy, will bring together youth workers and a range of specialist professionals to give young people access to holistic support. 

Sir Keir Starmer said improving prospects for young people is “our generation’s greatest responsibility” as the Government launched its 10-year youth plan.

The Young Futures Hub is set to open in County Durham by March 2026. 

The scheme aims to tackle issues such as youth isolation, vulnerability, and lack of access to opportunities by creating a single, safe and trusted place where young people can get the help they need at the right time. 

News of the announcement comes as the Government revealed its ambition to ensure 500,000 more young people across England have access to a trusted adult outside their home as well as resources on how to stay safe online as part of the plans.

The Prime Minister warned of a “lost decade of young kids left as collateral damage” ahead of the publication of Labour’s national youth strategy, which will seek to tackle what ministers describe as a crisis of isolation.

Through the strategy, ministers are pledging to:

• Launch a network of 50 “young futures” hubs by March 2029 as part of a £70 million programme to provide access to youth workers and other professionals
• Support organisations in “underserved” areas to deliver high-quality youth work and activities through a “richer young lives” fund worth around £60 million.
• Improve young people’s wellbeing, personal development and “life skills” through a new £22.5 million programme of support around the school day in up to 400 schools.
• Recruit and train youth workers, volunteers and other “trusted adults” with £15 million of investment.
• Improve youth services through £5 million to strengthen local partnerships, information-sharing and digital infrastructure