Youth hub to open in Powys as part of UK expansion plan

The hub is part of a UK-wide scheme to deliver employment support services for young people.

Powys is one of six areas across Wales confirmed for a Youth Hub in the second year of the programme.

The rollout is part of a wider plan to expand the Youth Hub network to more than 360 locations across Great Britain, aiming to ensure that no young person is more than one hour away from support by public transport.

Pat McFadden, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, said: "We want to make sure young people are getting real, personalised support, that’s not one size fits all.

"I’ve seen how it can change lives.

"Our Youth Hubs have over the past two years pioneered this approach - bringing job centre services together with mental health support, housing advice and more.

"I want to turbocharge this rollout so that every young person has this support within reach that can help them move into learning or earning."

The hubs offer employment advice alongside access to mental health and housing support, skills and training programmes, and careers guidance.

Located in community sites such as football clubs, colleges, and libraries, the hubs are designed to provide holistic support for young people.

The UK Government has said that Youth Hubs are a key part of its £2.5 billion Youth Guarantee, which aims to refocus the skills system and reduce the number of young people not in education, employment, or training (NEET).

The programme also supports businesses to hire young workers.

A Youth Jobs Grant offers £3,000 to employers for each 18- to 24-year-old they hire who has been on Universal Credit for six months.

Small businesses can also access a £2,000 incentive for every new apprentice aged 16-24.

In Wales, seven new Youth Hubs will open over the next two years, in addition to 13 already announced.

Locations will be confirmed by delivery partners and councils.

Hubs may open ahead of schedule if sites are ready.

The announcement follows Mr McFadden’s visit to a youth point in the Netherlands.

The Netherlands has one of the world’s lowest NEET rates.

The long-term goal of the UK scheme is to reduce the number of young people not in education, employment, or training.

Officials believe the community-based, joined-up approach can remove barriers and improve life chances for young people across the UK.