The government has announced the locations of 42 new Young Futures Hubs across England, marking a significant expansion of a programme designed to tackle knife crime and provide mental health support for teenagers.
The announcement, made on 15 September 2026, confirms a £70 million investment to establish the new centres between now and March 2029. These hubs aim to provide a “one-stop shop” for young people aged 10 to 18, offering access to youth workers, mental health practitioners, and employment coaches under one roof. For those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), support will be available up to the age of 25.
The initiative is a joint project led by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Home Office. It forms a central part of the National Youth Strategy, focusing on early intervention in areas with high levels of anti-social behaviour and youth violence.
A national network of support
The 42 newly identified locations join an initial wave of eight pilot hubs that are already operational in areas including Brighton and Hove, Birmingham, Manchester, and Leeds. The government intends for the full network of 50 hubs to be fully operational by March 2029.
The new rollout includes a diverse range of local authorities across the country. Key locations confirmed in this wave include:
- Blackpool
- Cornwall
- The Isle of Wight
- Bolton
- Barnsley
- Camden
- Hackney
- Barking and Dagenham
These local authorities will now enter an “onboarding” period, which is scheduled to run until February 2027. During this time, councils will work alongside young people in their communities to co-design the specific services and layouts of the hubs to ensure they meet local needs.
Services and funding
The £70 million transformation fund will be distributed over the next three financial years. The funding is intended to cover both the physical establishment of the hubs and the integration of professional services.
By bringing different agencies together, the programme aims to prevent young people from “falling through the gaps” between separate health, education, and justice services. The National Youth Agency has highlighted the importance of these hubs in providing safe spaces where young people can build trusted relationships with qualified youth workers.
Beyond crisis intervention, the hubs are tasked with helping young people prepare for adulthood. Employment coaches will be on hand to offer career guidance and help with job applications, while mental health support will focus on early-stage issues to prevent them from escalating into more serious conditions that require specialist NHS secondary care.
Implementation plans for the new sites are expected to be finalised by February 2027, after which the physical rollout and recruitment of specialist staff will begin in earnest.
