We’re pleased the Government has announced an additional £7 million investment in Early Support Hubs, a move we’ve consistently campaigned for as a member of The Fund the Hubs campaign group.

The announcement, made by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, during Children and Young People’s Mental Health Week, means that the 24 hubs currently funded by Government will continue to operate an expanded service offer throughout 2026/27.

The additional £7 million brings total government investment in Early Support Hubs to more than £20 million since April 2024.

However, while this announcement is good news – we also want to see long-term funding settlements that will have greater benefits for young people and practitioners into the future.

Jenny Smith, our Interim Children, Young People and Families Lead, said:

“It’s positive news for staff currently working in these hubs that they now have greater security for the coming year. However, short-term funding extensions are not sustainable. Long-term investment is crucial to retain skilled practitioners and ensure continuity of care for young people.”

“Early access to counselling and psychological support can make a profound difference, helping to prevent problems from escalating and ensuring young people can get the right support at the right time, in their own communities.”

Accessible, community-based mental health support

Alongside our campaign partners, we have been calling for sustained, long-term funding for open-access, community-based mental health services for children and young people.

We know that continued investment in accessible, community-based early intervention is essential to tackling rising levels of mental health problems among young people.

Early Support Hubs provide easily accessible, local support for young people aged 11 to 25. Crucially, young people can self-refer without needing a GP appointment or other formal referral, helping to remove barriers to accessing support at an early stage.

Services are tailored to local need and can include counselling, psychological therapies, group work, specialist advice and signposting. Many hubs also offer support on wider issues such as sexual health, employment, substance use and financial concerns, recognising the wider factors that can affect a young person’s mental health.

Evaluation and future development

The continued funding will also support further evaluation of the hubs’ impact. Early findings suggest that young people value the holistic and accessible nature of the services, while service managers report clear benefits of early, community-based intervention.

The full evaluation, expected in the summer, will help inform wider community mental health ambitions within the Government’s 10 Year Health Plan.