Plans for a new hub providing mental health support, opportunities and help to prevent young Islanders being drawn into crime have received a £100,000 Government boost.
The Isle of Wight Council has successfully secured a place on the Government’s Young Futures Hubs and Transformation Programme following a competitive application process.
The Island was among 50 local authorities originally shortlisted and invited to submit an Expression of Interest and has now been confirmed as 1 of 26 areas selected to join the programme.
An initial £100,000 grant will support planning and co-creation work for an Isle of Wight Young Futures Hub, bringing together preventative services and opportunities for young people.
The programme is centred around 3 main objectives: improving young people’s mental health and wellbeing, providing opportunities to help them fulfil their potential and reducing their vulnerability to being drawn into crime.
Young Futures Hubs are intended to provide safe and welcoming places where young people can access a range of support under one roof, including mental health services, youth activities, careers advice, skills and training, employment opportunities and crime prevention support.
The hubs are primarily aimed at those aged between 10 and 18, with support extending up to the age of 25 for young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
As part of the programme, the council will work with young Islanders and organisations across the public, voluntary and community sectors to develop an approach tailored to local needs.
The programme will also look at wider improvements to youth services on the Island, including closer partnership working, workforce development and greater involvement of young people in shaping the services they use.
No decisions have yet been made about where the Island’s hub will be located or exactly how it will operate, with these details to be explored during the programme’s development phase.
The Isle of Wight Council will use the initial funding to undertake detailed planning and co-creation work with young people and local partners, with implementation plans expected to be submitted in early 2027.
A steering group is set to be established by the council in the coming weeks, with partners invited to identify local priorities and help design services.
Councillor Ros Freeman, chair of the Isle of Wight Council’s Children’s Services, Education and Skills Committee, has said:
“I am absolutely delighted that the Isle of Wight has been selected for the Young Futures Support and Transformation Programme.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for our children, young people and families, and I am grateful for the investment and confidence shown in our Island.
“The prospect of developing a new Young Futures Hub is particularly exciting, giving young people greater access to the support, guidance, and opportunities they need to thrive.
“This is a very positive step forward for our community, and I look forward to seeing the benefits it will bring for years to come.”
Isle of Wight West MP Richard Quigley has also welcomed the announcement, saying it follows work by Children’s Services and his efforts to secure greater support for the Island.
He has said:
“This is great news and follows the work Children’s Services have been doing on the Island, as well as the constant nagging I do in Parliament to get more for the Isle of Wight.”
The wider Government programme aims to establish a network of up to 50 Young Futures Hubs across England by March 2029.
The Government says the hubs are intended to make it easier for young people to access different forms of support in one place, rather than having to repeatedly tell their story to separate services.
