Oral Answers to Questions

Natasha Irons Excerpts

Monday 26th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Patrick Hurley (Southport) (Lab)]

3. What steps he is taking to support the roll-out of youth hubs.

[Natasha Irons (Croydon East) (Lab)]

7. What steps he is taking through the roll-out of youth hubs to help support young people into education, training and employment.

[Jas Athwal (Ilford South) (Lab)]

17. What steps he is taking to support the roll-out of youth hubs.

--- Later in debate ---

[Pat McFadden]

The Big Onion is one of a number of organisations doing excellent work in trying to help young people into work. It is part of a larger partner group that the local jobcentre works closely with. In fact, one of our youth employability coaches is based with the partner group in the town hall once a week. This is exactly why we are expanding youth hubs across the country, so that we can work with other organisations to take the help where young people need it in the community.

[Natasha Irons]

The expansion of Department for Work and Pensions youth hubs and the roll-out of Young Futures hubs are a testament to the Government’s commitment to stand alongside young people and support them to succeed. The Centre for Young Lives has called for Government Departments to work jointly to ensure clear alignment across those hubs to prevent duplication and to stop young people falling through the gaps. What steps will the Government take to ensure that Young Futures hubs and DWP services share information effectively, align their programmes and provide seamless pathways to improve outcomes for young people?

[Pat McFadden]

One of my first visits in this post was to the youth hub at Selhurst Park, which is close to my hon. Friend’s constituency, as part of our partnership with the Premier League. When I was there, I heard the story of one young person, Erin, who had had a successful outcome: she increased her confidence, got a job and wanted to move on to another one. It is important that we put in place handover arrangements, particularly for 16 to 18-year-olds, to ensure a smooth transition from the earlier help they will get in a Young Futures hub to the kind of age group we deal with in youth hubs, which is more focused on employment and careers.