Mayor welcomes billions for young people

The Mayor of the West of England, Helen Godwin, has welcomed a flurry of action from government to support children and young people in the West and across the country, which includes a new Young Futures Hub in Bristol.

• A Child Poverty Strategy aiming to lift 550,000 children out of poverty by 2030, which would be the largest reduction ever during a single Parliament, and ease the cost of living for families
• A reform package for the apprenticeship system, worth £725 million – including £140 million for a Mayors’ pilot to connect young people with opportunities and local employers – and an £820 million investment to see almost 1 million young people benefit from improved learning and employment opportunities
• The first National Youth Strategy in 15 years, backed with £500 million of investment including £420 million for 250 new or refurbished youth centres and 50 Young Futures Hubs over the next four years

Young Futures Hubs will bring together services to improve access to opportunities and support, working with statutory partners, service providers, young people, and communities. This year, £2 million is being made available to the first eight – including Docklands Youth Centre in east central Bristol. The additional services for 10-18 year olds (up to 25 for young people with special educational needs) should become operational by March 2026. The 224 Youth Zone in the south of the city is also set to open next year through a partnership between the city council, OnSide, and Youth Moves. While cabinet member for women, children, and families, the Mayor laid the foundations for and committed public funding to the facility – the first of its kind in the South West.

The multi-billion pound plans announced by the Prime Minister follow the decision to scrap the two-child benefit cap, supported by the Mayor and welcomed by leaders in the West. This comes ahead of the West’s very own child poverty action plan being published this month, building on the regional Growth Strategy approved in the autumn.

After housing costs, 67,500 children (27%) are growing up in poverty in the West. The regional action plan will focus on reducing the cost of living, giving young people the best start in life, and connecting residents to opportunity through skills and transport.

Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said:

“Every child deserves the best start in life. These new investments and plans are worth billions – including funding for a new Young Futures Hub in Bristol. It will make a big difference for children and young people across the West.

“I am excited, building on the work of our existing Youth Guarantee trailblazer, to work in partnership with employers and partners to help get more young people into training and work. This will include full funding from the government for small and medium-sized businesses to take people on.

“National ambition is matched by our own here in the West. Before Christmas, we will publish our child poverty action plan, setting out how we can use regional policy to help break the cycle of poverty and give people hope and opportunity.”

Councillor Christine Townsend, Chair of the Children and Young People committee at Bristol City Council, said being part of the pilot was a good opportunity work with partners and young people to build a network that truly reflects the needs and aspirations of young people.

She said: “We know that the long-term lack of investment in youth services on a national level as well as the pandemic has had a deeply negative impact on our young people that is keenly felt today.

“It is an exciting opportunity to be an Early Adopter for the Young Futures Hubs network. By working in partnership with Bristol’s youth organisations and leaders, and working with young people themselves, we can create new opportunities, expand support, and lay the foundations for lasting change that will help our city’s next generation to thrive.”

Announcing the Child Poverty Strategy, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:

“Child poverty is a stain on our country. I’ve seen the damage poverty does first hand, and bearing down on it sits at the very core of this government’s mission.

“This strategy, lifting over half a million children out of poverty, represents an historic moment for generations of families now and into the future.

“And whether it’s expanding free school meals, rolling out free breakfast clubs, or revitalising family services, we are determined to give every child the very best start in life.”

Announcing the National Youth Strategy, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said:

“The challenges facing young people today are urgent and demand a major change in direction. For too long, youth policy has been an afterthought. This generation deserves better.

“Young people are the most digitally connected but also the most isolated in generations with many wanting more meaningful real life connections. Young people have been crystal clear in speaking up in our consultation: they need support for their mental health, spaces to meet with people in their communities and real opportunities to thrive. We will give them what they want. Today’s National Youth Strategy puts young people at the heart of decision-making and begins to rebuild the youth services that were decimated over the past decade.

“From Young Futures Hubs in local communities to hundreds of millions of pounds invested in youth facilities to transforming the services that support them - we will give young people somewhere to go, something meaningful to do, and someone who cares about their wellbeing. They have spoken - now we’re delivering for them.”

Announcing the apprenticeships reform, Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said:

“Every young person deserves a fair chance to succeed. When given the right support and opportunities, they will grasp them.

“That’s why we are introducing a range of reforms to help young people take that vital step into the workplace or training and to go on and make something of their lives.

“This funding is a downpayment on young people’s futures and the future of the country, creating real pathways into good jobs and providing work experience, skills training and guaranteed employment.”

Since taking office, the Mayor has supported a “proudly interventionist approach” to supporting families. After the success of Kids Go Free during the summer holidays, around 150,000 kids in Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire will again benefit from free bus travel over the Christmas holidays, helping families with the cost of living. The Mayor has also supported government efforts to introduce and expand free breakfast clubs, plans to extend automatic entitlement for 500,000 more children to receive free school meals, and increase the minimum wage including for young people.