Rachel has written to the leader of North Warwickshire Borough Council, calling on him to locate a new government-funded Youth Hub in Atherstone. The planned hubs bring together local mental health and housing support, skills and training opportunities as well as careers guidance and work opportunities with links to local employers with live job and apprenticeship opportunities.
In her letter Rachel said:
Dear Cllr Wright,
Government funding for a Youth Hub in North Warwickshire
I am sure that like me you were delighted to hear that one of the 180 new Youth Hubs announced by the government will be in North Warwickshire. Youth Hubs form part of a major government investment in supporting 18–24-year-olds to develop new skills and find employment.
The aim of these hubs is to provide a comprehensive service for young people under the same roof – a transformative approach to ensuring our young people get the support they need. Providers of Jobcentre support, mental health and housing advice, skills and training opportunities, careers guidance and direct links to employers with live job and apprenticeship vacancies will work together to help young people build themselves a secure future.
This is a great opportunity for our area and one that will allow our young people to thrive. I want it to be as accessible as possible – especially to the parts of our community that experience the highest levels of deprivation and are more likely to find themselves not in education, employment or training.
That is why I would urge you to locate the new Youth Hub in Atherstone. Atherstone is broadly central and is the most accessible part of our borough, but it is also near to where the young people with the greatest need are. Atherstone Central currently has the highest number of 18–24-year-olds claiming Job Seeker’s Allowance or Universal Credit whilst actively seeking work. It is also close to Atherstone South and Mancetter where the need to access these services is also comparatively high.
I am excited to see this project develop alongside other initiatives from the government to give young people a better chance and look forward to hearing your thoughts and plans, and to seeing the Youth Hub in action.
Kind regards,
Rachel Taylor MP