Brighton and Hove has been selected as one of just eight local authorities across England to pilot the government’s new Young Futures Hub programme, helping to shape a national approach to early support for young people.
As part of this programme, which will create a network of inclusive, youth‑led community spaces, our Youth Advice Centre (YAC) will play a key role in bringing trusted advice and emotional wellbeing support into community locations across north and central Brighton and Hove.
A new approach to early support for young people
Young Futures Hubs are a new model of preventative, community‑based support, designed to make it easier for young people to access help early, before challenges escalate into crisis.
By bringing together emotional wellbeing services and wider support in one place, the hubs aim to reduce barriers and ensure young people can get the right advice at the right time, in spaces that feel familiar, welcoming and accessible.
The Brighton & Hove pilot will support:
- Young people aged 10–18
- Young people aged up to 25 with SEND
With a focus on:
- Mental health and emotional wellbeing
- Early support and prevention
- Improved access to local opportunities and services
As an early adopter, Brighton & Hove will help shape how Young Futures Hubs are designed and delivered nationally, contributing to the government’s forthcoming National Youth Strategy.
YMCA DownsLink Group’s role
We will support the Young Futures Hub by taking our Youth Advice Centre services into local community settings, making support easier to find and more accessible for young people.
This includes:
- Open‑access advice in north and central Brighton & Hove
- A strong focus on emotional wellbeing
- Improved access to YAC specialists including Housing Advisors and Family Mediators
YAC Brighton will also deliver a Test & Learn pilot aimed at reducing barriers for young carers accessing advice and support, helping to inform future service design and delivery.
All work is rooted in the Youth Access model, which promotes free, age‑appropriate and open‑access Youth Information, Advice and Counselling Services. Fundamental to this work is building positive trusted relationships with young people to understand their needs at an earlier stage and provide support at a time that is right for them.
Working together for greater impact
The Young Futures Hub in Brighton and Hove is being led by Brighton & Hove City Council, in partnership with national organisations including the National Youth Agency, Youth Access and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport.
Locally, the programme brings together a network of community organisations already working hard to support young people in their communities. YMCA DownsLink Group has a strong history of working alongside these partners to deliver trusted advice services from our centrally located Youth Advice Centre. However this new partnership approach takes YAC further out into communities, shaped by young people’s local knowledge and lived experience.
Supporting young people, together
“This is an important opportunity to strengthen how young people access advice and emotional wellbeing support across our city,” said Thom Palser, our Head of Youth Advice and Support.
“By working in partnership and meeting young people in familiar, trusted spaces, we can reduce barriers, offer support earlier, and help more young people to thrive.”
Find out more
YMCA DownsLink Group is committed to supporting young people’s wellbeing, agency and resilience through early, accessible and compassionate support.
