Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that funding for Young Futures Hubs does not result in reductions in funding for other existing youth services.

Young Futures Hubs form part of a £500 million investment over the next few years from DCMS for youth services to provide support when and where young people need it, more safe spaces, and access to trusted adults.

Government is committed to ensuring Young Futures Hubs complement and enhance existing youth provision, not replace it. The programme supports local authorities to take a strategic, evidence-led approach to identifying and addressing gaps in support for young people, building on existing youth services, community assets and voluntary and community sector provision.

In addition to funding for their Young Futures Hub, local authorities will receive £500,000 through the Local Youth Transformation Programme to strengthen the local capability, partnerships and infrastructure needed to deliver this approach.

DCMS grant agreements and monitoring will ensure this funding remains strictly additional to existing provision, supported by national evaluation to assess the programme’s impact.