Last year, Labour pledged nearly £100 million for an initiative called Youth Futures Hubs.

These hubs were designed to bring community services for young people under one roof. Instead of having to navigate a maze of different agencies, young people would be able to access opportunities and health support in one place.

A key part of the plan was mental health support. The idea was to spot early signs of deterioration and step in as soon as possible. This is vital when we know that one in four children and young people aged 8 to 25 currently has a common mental health condition.[1]

What’s Happened Since the Pledge?

Since that pledge was made:

• Only £2 million has actually gone into the hubs.
• Responsibility has shifted from the Department of Education to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Every change in funding and focus risks pushing mental health further down the list of priorities. And that is something young people simply cannot afford.

The Scale of the Challenge

The demand for mental health services for children and young people is increasing rapidly [2]:

• Between 2022/23 and 2023/24, active referrals to CAMHS rose by nearly 10,000, reaching 958,200.
• In the same period, the number still waiting for treatment grew by almost 50,000, from 270,000 to 320,000.

What We’re Doing and How You Can Help

At Mental Health Matters, we've written to the Secretary of State, urging guarantees that young people's health and wellbeing remain at the heart of the Youth Futures Hubs.

But we need your support too! Share this post, raise awareness, or forward it to your network to show that young people's mental health matters. Together, we can ensure that early, accessible support stays central to the Youth Futures Hubs.