Key Points
- Hackney Council has secured up to £1.3 million in new funding over the next two years to expand support services for local young people.
- The funding originates from the UK Government’s Young Futures Hubs programme, targeting crucial areas such as mental health, skills training, employment routes, and crime prevention.
- Young Hackney, the council’s dedicated youth service, will collaborate with local community organisations to deliver expanded services across its community networks and existing hubs.
- The funding allocation directly addresses local socio-economic challenges, including high rates of child poverty and youth unemployment in the borough.
- Young people and key local stakeholders will actively participate in deciding how the newly acquired funds will be distributed and spent.
Hackney Council (East London Times) September 21, 2026 — Young Hackney, the local authority’s dedicated youth service, has secured an extra financial boost of up to £1.3 million over the next two years to expand its free provision for young residents across health, education, and employment sector streams.
What Does the £1.3 Million Young Futures Hubs Funding Grant Entail?
As reported by Hackney Council News, the local authority has successfully secured an injection of government funding reaching up to £1.3 million over a two-year timeline. The grant has been allocated through the UK Government’s national Young Futures Hubs programme, a wider initiative designed to enhance youth support networks across local authorities in England.
The primary objective of the funding is to allow Young Hackney—the council’s integrated service for children and young people—to broaden its operational reach. The funding will assist the service in connecting young residents directly to multidisciplinary support services that target socio-economic and personal challenges.
In addition to maintaining open-access sports, creative arts activities, and general youth work, the Young Futures Hub model is designed to link young individuals to:
- Dedicated mental health support and wellbeing resources
- Vocational skills development and formal job training options
- Structured routes into long-term employment
- Targeted youth crime prevention and early intervention initiatives
How Will Young Hackney and Community Organisations Allocate the Funds?
According to details published by Hackney Council News, the delivery of the expanded services will rely heavily on a collaborative model involving both council teams and voluntary sector partners. Young Hackney plans to work alongside local community organisations to expand its reach through both physical youth hubs and outreach operations across the borough.
To ensure the delivery aligns with community requirements, Young Hackney will involve young residents and wider local stakeholders directly in the decision-making process regarding how the funds are spent.
According to a public statement released by Councillor Soraya Adejare, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Early Intervention at Hackney Council:
“Hackney has one of the highest rates of children growing up in income-deprived households in the country and far too many young people outside of education or employment. That means it’s vital that we offer high-quality, properly-funded youth services to help give every young person the best start in life.”
Councillor Soraya Adejare further added:
“We made a commitment to increasing funding for youth services in Hackney and making the case to the government for more investment in youth centres. This new funding boost shows we’re delivering on that commitment.”
Background of Youth Provision in Hackney
Young Hackney currently operates a comprehensive network of municipal youth facilities across the borough. This infrastructure includes four main youth hubs alongside five adventure playgrounds, all of which are free to access for young people aged 10 to 19 (and up to age 25 for individuals with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities).
Beyond direct council facilities, Young Hackney administers financial and operational support to a wide variety of voluntary sector youth organisations across East London.
The services provided across these centres range from informal recreational spaces to specialized early interventions. These include structured education and employment advice, housing assistance, physical health support, and targeted diversionary programmes aimed at preventing young people from becoming involved in anti-social behaviour or criminal activity.
What Is the Future Outlook for Hackney’s Young People and Local Youth Services?
The arrival of up to £1.3 million in additional funding over the next two years is projected to deliver targeted support for several key groups within the borough:
- Young People and Job Seekers Aged 10–25: Local residents, particularly those currently not in education, employment, or training (NEET), stand to gain direct access to tailored employment pathways, mental health assistance, and mentorship. The participatory model ensures that youth priorities directly shape local activity offerings.
- Local Voluntary and Youth Sector Organisations: Non-profit partners and community-led groups operating in Hackney can expect increased opportunities for joint commissioning and collaborative funding, helping to stabilise local community infrastructure.
- The Wider Hackney Community: Increased funding for early intervention and crime prevention is expected to strengthen community cohesion and reduce youth-related anti-social behaviour through structured, positive activities and professional youth work oversight.
