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We’ve highlighted our deep concerns to the Government following its decision to significantly reduce the amount of investment in Young Futures Hubs - and for framing the services as crime prevention.  

In our joint statement, signed by eight other major mental health charities, we say that the Government has failed to keep to its manifesto pledge of £95 million per year for the hubs as it has now only committed to only around 50 hubs backed by £250,000 per hub. This falls short of the comprehensive network of support and funding initially pledged.

Our statement has been reported by .

We know that the hubs have proven effective in local communities for decades and that their 'strength lies in a holistic approach, supporting young people across all areas of their lives - including those at risk of being drawn into crime. Successful hubs are co-created with young people to ensure they feel safe, welcoming, and genuinely supportive.' 

Risk of deterring young people

However, we believe that framing these services as crime prevention - as the did - risks deterring young people from accessing them. To truly help young people thrive, the Government must involve them at every stage of developing and delivering Young Futures Hubs, nationally and locally. 

Government must rethink its decision

In our statement we urged the Government to rethink its decision as Young Futures Hubs present a 'vital opportunity to deliver on its ambitions to move care into the community, take a preventative approach, and raise the healthiest generation of children ever, so they feel equipped to on their journey into adulthood. Achieving this requires mental health and wellbeing at the core, robust design with young people and long-term investment. Without doing so, these ambitions will be meaningless for children and young people.'

The letter was co-signed by:

Amy Whitelock Gibbs, Chair, Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition 

Andy Bell, Chief Executive, Centre for Mental Health 

Audrey Muwandi, Programme and Partnerships Manager, Black Thrive 

Dr Phil James CEO, British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy

Cassandra Harrison, CEO, Youth Access

Mark Russell, CEO, The Children’s Society

Lucy Taylor-Mitchinson, Director of Policy and Communications, YoungMinds

Sarah Hughes, CEO, Mind 

Read the full Young Futures Hubs statement (48kb)