£100k award for new hub to help young people deal with challenges
Calderdale Council has been awarded £100,000 of funding to develop a new hub
Calderdale Council has been awarded £100,000 of funding to develop a new hub to help young people deal with life’s challenges including their health, to find work and to feel safe.
A “one stop shop” for help and advice, it is one of 42 councils across the country awarded the funding by the Government as part of its National Youth Strategy after Calderdale successfully applied for it.
There will also be opportunities for further grants, the council says.
Mental health services, employment opportunities and crime prevention support will be brought together in the Young Futures Hub, making it easier for young people to get help in their local community.
Thousands of young people jointly designed the National Youth Strategy to give them the skills they need and increase their opportunities.
The Government has expanded its hubs programme to offer seamless support for young people facing challenges including poor mental health, unemployment and serious violence, the council says.
When the Calderdale hub is created, it will provide open access to sports, creative activities, trusted youth workers, mental health support, crime prevention, skills, training and help to get a job.
It will be delivered with Calderdale Youth Collective, which brings together the council, young people, voluntary groups, schools, health organisations and others to help all young people access specialist services and community based activities that support their personal, social and emotional development.
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet member for Children and Young People’s Services, Coun Tim Holden, welcomed the news.
“We want all young people in Calderdale to have the opportunity to thrive, whatever challenges they may be facing.
“The Young Futures Hub is about bringing together all the support that someone might need in the heart of their community, without them having to talk to lots of different people from different services and repeating their story every time.
“Local young people will be able to design the new hub with us and tell us what services they need – whether that’s wellbeing support, skills development or help to get into work,” he said.
The council is beginning to get plans for the Young Futures Hub under way, starting by looking at the support already available in Calderdale and how the hub can work with and build on this.
As more detailed plans develop over time, in partnership with communities, options will be considered for services, locations and timescales, says the council.