'Fantastic opportunity' - Young Futures Hub can help South Tyneside youth overcome challenges
‘This is a fantastic opportunity to strengthen local support for young people.’
South Tyneside is to open a hub helping young people access mental health support, employment opportunities and crime prevention services.
The government has announced the expansion of its Young Futures Hubs programme, to tackle challenges, from poor mental health and unemployment to serious violence.
Alongside providing open access to sports, creative activities and trusted youth workers, each hub will bring together mental health support, skills and training, routes into employment, and crime prevention.
It will ensure that young people aged 10-18, up to 25 for those with SEND, can receive “seamless, holistic support without having to repeat their story to a different service every time they visit”.
Further details of the South Tyneside hub are yet to be released.
The announcement from the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, confirmed that local authorities in England will establish 42 new hubs. The programme is key to the government’s National Youth Strategy, Youth Matters, which launched in December 2025.
A survey has highlighted that many young people have no 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.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, said: "Last year we spoke to thousands of young people who told us that they needed somewhere to go, something to do, and someone to talk to.
“That’s what these new Young Futures Hubs will give them. It is a symbol of this government wrapping their arms around young people, telling them we believe in their generation and that we know they can succeed.”
South Tyneside Council is happy with the news, but says that a location is yet to be decided.
Cllr Michelle Fascione, lead member for Children and Families, Education and Skills, said: “We welcome the news that South Tyneside has been selected to take part in the Government’s Young Futures Hubs and Transformation Programme.
“This is a fantastic opportunity to strengthen local support for young people and help them access new opportunities. We will work with young people themselves, communities and our partners to understand local needs and how the Youth Future Hub will work.
“This is at a very early stage, so no location or final model has been agreed. We will provide further information as the work develops.”