£7m boost for Early Support Hubs to expand young people’s mental health services

New investment will enable 24 existing Early Support Hubs to expand services locally, aiming to deliver around 10,000 additional mental health and wellbeing interventions over the next year.

Support offered through the hubs includes counselling, group work, therapeutic input and specialist advice for young people aged 11 to 25 — without the need for referrals or GP appointments.

The announcement comes during Children and Young People’s Mental Health Week and forms part of the government’s wider 10 Year Health Plan commitment to extend mental health provision for children and young people.

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “No young person should suffer in silence with their mental health. We’re investing in the wellbeing of the next generation, making sure every young person has the best start in life and the support they need to grow, to flourish, and to thrive.

“Early Support Hubs are already making a real difference and this funding boost will expand services to support more young people in communities across the country.

Early Support Hubs operate as open-access, youth-friendly spaces designed to provide early help before difficulties escalate into more severe mental illness. Research suggests the hubs attract groups less likely to engage with traditional NHS or school-based services, including older teenagers and young people from ethnic minority backgrounds.

Demand for mental health support remains high. In 2023, around one in five people aged 8 to 25 were estimated to have a mental disorder, underlining the pressure on existing services.

Findings from the Early Support Hubs programme are expected to inform the government’s future rollout of Young Futures Hubs, shaping how open-access mental health care is delivered nationally.

Minister for Early Education Olivia Bailey said: “These services are vital so that every young person can achieve and thrive, getting timely support in their local areas, whether that’s group sessions, or simply a safe space to talk.”

Young people with lived experience of the hubs have also welcomed the funding extension. Des Fletcher, who received support from the Young Devon hub, said: “I have struggled with anxiety and low mood which has had a big impact on my life. Young Devon is the only service that actually gives that time, effort and non-judgemental space for me to be me.

“Support like this is so important for young people that might be struggling. I hope that young people in every community can have a place like this to turn to for their mental health and wellbeing.”

Sector leaders and charities broadly welcomed the funding while stressing the need for long-term sustainability.

Connie Muttock, Head of Policy at the Centre for Young Lives, said: “Childhood is a crucial window where the right support can be transformational. Early Support Hubs can be a lifeline, providing accessible, youth-friendly community spaces meeting young people’s needs holistically.

“The decision to extend funding for these vital services is welcome, and we very much hope this is the first part of a large and long-term package of support to match the scale of the mental health crisis young people are currently coping with alone.”

Gemma Byrne, Policy and Influencing Manager at Mind, added: “We’re delighted to see the extension of funding for 24 early support hubs around the country.

“As children, young people and their families navigate long waiting lists, these hubs are a lifeline offering tailored support in the heart of local communities without needing a referral.

“We now need to see a national commitment to delivering a hub in every local authority area by 2035, to make sure every young person with a mental health problem can get the care they need before reaching crisis point.”

“Today’s announcement to extend funding for 24 early support hubs for young people’s mental health is a welcome step and will make a real difference,” Andy Bell, Chief Executive of Centre for Mental Health, said. “We have long called for a national rollout of hubs so that all children and young people can access timely, community-based mental health support.

“It is vital that insights from this programme shape the Government’s plans for Young Futures Hubs, informing how open-access mental health provision is delivered and sustained. As set out in the Government’s manifesto, this must mean genuinely open access, co-produced with young people, with mental health support available up to the age of 25.”

Jack O’Neill, Director of Policy, Advocacy and Influencing at The Children’s Society, said: “This will come as a relief to the thousands of young people who rely on early support when problems first surface, before they escalate into crisis or cause lasting harm.

“The extra year of funding provides vital breathing space as demand from young people continues to rise across the country. But this must be more than a stopgap. It is crucial that this work shapes the future of local services young people depend on. There is little sense in redesigning the system without securing and building on what we already know works.”

The funding forms part of wider government action on mental health, including an additional £688 million investment in services this year, the recruitment of thousands of mental health workers, accelerated rollout of Mental Health Support Teams in schools and colleges, and recent reforms to the Mental Health Act strengthening the rights of children and young people.