42 new Young Futures Hubs will open across England, funded by 70 million pounds between 2026/27 and 2028/29. The DCMS announcement on 15 September 2026 builds on 8 early adopter hubs and forms part of the National Youth Strategy, with a commitment to 50 hubs by the end of the Parliament.
TL;DR · LAST REVIEWED 42 new Young Futures Hubs will open across England, funded by 70 million pounds between 2026/27 and 2028/29. The DCMS announcement on 15 September 2026 builds on 8 early adopter hubs and forms part of the National Youth Strategy, with a commitment to 50 hubs by the end of the Parliament.
- 42 new Young Futures Hubs will open across England, on top of 8 early adopter hubs already announced.
- 70 million pounds is being distributed to local authorities between 2026/27 and 2028/29.
- Hubs serve young people aged 10 to 18, and up to 25 for those with SEND.
- 26 councils are named, with some receiving funding for two hubs.
KEY FACTS
- New hubs: 42, plus 8 early adopters
- Funding: £70m, 2026/27 to 2028/29
- Per hub: Up to £300k a year plus £125k capital
- Ages: 10 to 18, up to 25 with SEND
- Youth spending cut since 2010: 73%
What was announced
Source: Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 15 September 2026.
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport published a press release at 22:30 on 15 September 2026 confirming that 42 new Young Futures Hubs will open across England. The announcement builds on 8 early adopter hubs already established in Birmingham, Brighton and Hove, Bristol, County Durham, Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham and Tower Hamlets. The hubs are designed for young people aged 10 to 18, and up to 25 for those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Each hub brings together mental health support, skills and training, routes into employment, crime prevention, and open access sport, creative activities and youth workers under one roof. A Local Youth Transformation programme runs alongside the hub programme, intended to change how councils plan and deliver youth services in their areas.
Lisa Nandy, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, 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.' Vicky Foxcroft, Minister for Young People, said: 'By co-creating every Young Futures Hub and Transformation plan with young people, we are ensuring they are the architects of their own future.' The programme forms part of the National Youth Strategy, published as Youth Matters in December 2025 and co-produced with 14,000 young people. The government has committed to opening 50 Young Futures Hubs before the end of the Parliament.
Where the hubs will open
The 26 councils named in the announcement are Barking and Dagenham, Barnsley, Blackpool, Bolton, Calderdale, Camden, Cornwall, Hackney, Isle of Wight, Kingston upon Hull, Knowsley, Lancashire, Middlesbrough, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, Oldham, Peterborough, Plymouth, Redcar and Cleveland, Rochdale, Salford, Sandwell, South Tyneside, Stoke-on-Trent, Torbay and Waltham Forest. Some of these councils receive funding for two hubs. In addition, Birmingham, County Durham, Leeds, Manchester and Nottingham receive funding for a second hub, extending the provision already in place through the early adopter phase. Full details of the allocations were published on GOV.UK on 16 September, the day after the press release.
The spread of councils covers urban and rural areas, from Cornwall and the Isle of Wight to Newcastle upon Tyne and Northumberland. The inclusion of districts such as Knowsley, Redcar and Cleveland, and Torbay indicates that the programme is not limited to the largest cities. For parents and young people, the practical effect is that a local authority on the list will be responsible for establishing a hub in its area, with the location and opening date to be confirmed by the council. Manchester's hub has been operational since April 2026 and runs three facilities operated by independent charities, offering mental health support, youth work, holiday food programmes and support for young people not in education, employment or training (NEET). It is cited as the working example for the wider rollout.
The money
70 million pounds is being distributed to local authorities to establish Young Futures Hubs and deliver Local Youth Transformation projects between 2026/27 and 2028/29. Within that total, up to 300,000 pounds a year per hub is available to operate each site, and up to 125,000 pounds capital per hub is provided for set-up costs. Local authorities can receive up to 500,000 pounds each for Local Youth Transformation work. The programme is part of the National Youth Strategy, which carries over 500 million pounds of investment over the next decade. The government has committed to opening 50 Young Futures Hubs before the end of the Parliament, meaning the 42 announced on 15 September plus the 8 early adopters take the total to 50 if all proceed.
The funding responds to a long period of reduced local provision. Local government spending on youth services fell by 73 percent between 2010/11 and 2022/23. Over the same period, more than 1,000 youth centres closed and over 4,500 youth worker roles were lost. The 70 million pounds announced for 2026/27 to 2028/29 is therefore directed at rebuilding physical spaces and staffing in areas that have seen provision decline. For parents, the per-hub figures give a sense of scale: a hub operating at the maximum revenue allocation of 300,000 pounds a year would cover staffing, activities and running costs, while the capital allocation of up to 125,000 pounds would cover building or refurbishment work. The Local Youth Transformation funding is separate and intended for wider service redesign rather than individual hub sites.
How it fits with other support
Young Futures Hubs for 10 to 18 year olds sit alongside DWP Youth Hubs, which serve 16 to 24 year olds in over 360 locations and provide employment support. Pat McFadden, Work and Pensions Secretary, said DWP Youth Hubs give 18 to 25 year olds help to move towards employment, in libraries, football clubs and community centres, as part of work towards half a million opportunities to earn or learn. The two networks are distinct: Young Futures Hubs focus on mental health, youth work, skills and crime prevention for a younger age group, while DWP Youth Hubs focus on employment support for those aged 16 to 24. A young person aged 16 to 18 could in principle access both.
Other related programmes include 132 million pounds for the Every Child Can programme, 22.5 million pounds for the Enrichment Expansion Programme with up to 400 schools, the Halving Knife Crime Plan and Young Futures Panels. The government has said further measures are expected alongside the response to the Milburn review. For families, the practical question is how a local hub connects to existing school, health and employment services. The Local Youth Transformation element is intended to join these up at council level. Manchester's three hubs, operational since April 2026, provide the clearest current example of how mental health support, youth work, holiday food programmes and NEET support can be delivered together in one local area.
Source: DCMS press release, 15 September 2026.
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DISCLAIMER
Figures and council list are DCMS's as published on 15 September 2026; per-council allocations were to be published on 16 September.
Frequently asked questions
How many new Young Futures Hubs will open?
42 new hubs will open across England, building on 8 early adopter hubs in Birmingham, Brighton and Hove, Bristol, County Durham, Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham and Tower Hamlets. The government has committed to 50 hubs before the end of the Parliament.
How much funding is available?
70 million pounds is being distributed to local authorities between 2026/27 and 2028/29. Up to 300,000 pounds a year per hub is available to operate, up to 125,000 pounds capital per hub, and up to 500,000 pounds per council for Local Youth Transformation.
Who can use a Young Futures Hub?
Hubs serve young people aged 10 to 18, and up to 25 for those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). They offer mental health support, skills and training, routes into employment, crime prevention, and open access sport, creative activities and youth workers.
Which councils are receiving funding?
The 26 councils named are Barking and Dagenham, Barnsley, Blackpool, Bolton, Calderdale, Camden, Cornwall, Hackney, Isle of Wight, Kingston upon Hull, Knowsley, Lancashire, Middlesbrough, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, Oldham, Peterborough, Plymouth, Redcar and Cleveland, Rochdale, Salford, Sandwell, South Tyneside, Stoke-on-Trent, Torbay and Waltham Forest. Some receive funding for two hubs, and Birmingham, County Durham, Leeds, Manchester and Nottingham receive funding for a second hub.
How do Young Futures Hubs differ from DWP Youth Hubs?
Young Futures Hubs serve 10 to 18 year olds and focus on mental health, youth work, skills and crime prevention. DWP Youth Hubs serve 16 to 24 year olds in over 360 locations and focus on employment support.
SOURCES
- DCMS - accessed 16 September 2026
- GOV.UK: Youth Hubs - accessed 16 September 2026
