Isle of Wight selected for national youth scheme

Young people on the Isle of Wight will benefit from improved support services after the island was selected to join a government youth scheme.

Isle of Wight Council was named among 42 areas in England chosen to be part of the Young Futures Hubs and Transformation Programme.

Funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the programme aims to strengthen youth services and build a network of Young Futures Hubs across the country by 2029.

The hubs aim to provide safe, welcoming spaces for young people to access support, youth activities, career advice and wellbeing services.

The government initiative aims to help local areas develop services that support young people's mental health and wellbeing, provide skills and employment opportunities and help reduce vulnerability to crime.

Chair of the council's children's services, education and skills committee, Ros Freeman, said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for our children, young people and families, and I am grateful for the investment and confidence shown in our Island.

"The prospect of developing a new Young Futures Hub is particularly exciting, giving young people greater access to the support, guidance and opportunities they need to thrive.

"This is a very positive step forward for our community, and I look forward to seeing the benefits it will bring for years to come."

The council said it aimed to establish a steering group to help identify local priorities, co-design services and maximise the benefits of the opportunity for young people.