Stoke-on-Trent has been awarded up to £1.3 million in government funding to develop two new youth hubs offering mental-health support, employment advice, training and activities.

The city will initially receive up to £100,000 to prepare detailed plans for the Young Futures Hubs. Subject to performance and approval, it could then receive up to £600,000 a year during 2027/28 and 2028/29 to operate the two services.

No locations have yet been announced. Stoke-on-Trent City Council says young people will help design the proposals before a planned April 2027 start.

What the Stoke-on-Trent youth hubs would offer

The hubs are intended to bring several forms of support together rather than requiring young people to approach different organisations separately.

Proposed services include mental-health and wellbeing support, skills and training, help finding work and specialist assistance for young people at risk of crime or exploitation.

Open-access physical and digital spaces would be available to people aged between 10 and 18. Support could extend to age 25 for young people with special educational needs and disabilities.

The plans also include sports, creative activities, mentoring and counselling. Youth workers would be available to build longer-term relationships with young people using the hubs.

The council says the new provision will build on Stoke-on-Trent's Local Youth Transformation pilot and complement existing Family Hubs, Community Lounges and other youth services.

Young people will help shape the plans

Planning, review and co-creation work is expected to continue until March 2027. The council says young people will have a central role in deciding how the hubs operate and which services they provide.

Councillor Sarah Jane Colclough, cabinet member for children's services at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said the funding would build on work already taking place across the city.

"Young people need safe places to go, positive things to do and people they can trust and talk to. They also need the right support when they are struggling with their mental health, looking for work or facing other challenges in their lives.

"We want young people in Stoke-on-Trent to have the opportunities and support they need to thrive and fulfil their potential.

"This funding will help us build on that, bring services together and, importantly, work with young people themselves to make sure the new hubs provide the support and opportunities they need."

Part of a national youth programme

Stoke-on-Trent is among the areas selected for the government's wider Young Futures Hubs programme. The national scheme aims to combine support for mental health, employment and crime prevention with open-access youth activities.

The government announced on 15 September that 42 additional hubs would be established across England, building on eight early-adopter areas. Stoke-on-Trent was included in the published list of participating local authorities.

According to the national announcement, £70 million is being distributed to local authorities for Young Futures Hubs and Local Youth Transformation work between 2026/27 and 2028/29.

Individual hubs can receive up to £125,000 for light refurbishment or digital projects and up to £300,000 a year in operating funding. Local authorities can also receive up to £500,000 for wider transformation work.

The programme forms part of the government's National Youth Strategy, which was developed with input from 14,000 young people. Departments supporting the work include the Department for Work and Pensions, Department for Education, Department of Health and Social Care, Home Office and Ministry of Justice.

Detailed locations, opening arrangements and the final service model for the Stoke-on-Trent hubs will be confirmed after the planning and co-design work.