Success for youth hub in Middlesbrough
The KFC Foundation Youth Hub has been open for less than a year
We're hearing how successful a Teesside youth hub has been to try and get young people into employment.
The KFC Foundation Youth Hub in Middlesbrough has been open for less than a year.
It comes as recent Government data shows half of Middlesbrough's neighbourhoods are highly deprived with just under 50 percent for Hartlepool.
Sarah Hunter, manager of the KFC Foundation Youth Hub in Middlesbrough, said: "We've got a growing team so there's four of us here now. We've got a girls programme, boys programme, we've got the podcasting, we're doing employment programmes, and we've got our youth hub. It's nice that young people are starting to own the space and develop that.
"Experiencing something new gives you the confidence to then step outside of your comfort zone and follow your passion. I think that everybody's got secret dreams and by thinking 'yes, I can do this' or 'yes, I can experience something different' really, really helps with that.
"I think this area here is full of heart, it's full of passionate people, everybody wants to get on in life, everybody wants their kids to get on in life and taking those opportunities and running with them is such a good thing for this area.
"It just takes a little bit of confidence and belief. Hopefully when young people come through here they have a really fun and happy experience where we see the value in everybody, and we hope that they can take that with them through their lives as well. I'm really, really hopeful about the young people who come through the door, they're just amazing."
You can find out more about the youth hub on their website.