City’s Youth Employment Hub shortlisted for LGC award

Brighton & Hove's Youth Employment Hub has been shortlisted in the national LGC Awards 2024 in the 'Public/Public Partnership' category.

The Youth Employment Hub (YEH), run by Brighton & Hove City Council in an innovative partnership with the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP), launched in June 2021.

The aim of the partnership is to provide a safe, physical community space for 16 to 25 year olds facing additional barriers and those who would find accessing a job centre difficult.

Ultimately, the most important and valuable partners are the young people the service works with, who have helped develop the space from the artwork on the walls, to the drop-ins and services available.

All this takes place in a safe and welcoming physical hub, which is open for drop-in Monday to Friday every week.

A 'virtual' online Youth Employment Hub is also part of the offer, which includes information on careers, education and local support.

The award is open to any partnership featuring two or more public sector bodies, at least one of which is a council.

It's intended to showcase the range of partnership working with entries needing to demonstrate the partnership has been able to offer improved services to help achieve the best outcomes possible.

Umbrella of support

Understanding the needs of young people not in education, employment or training can only be met by the right support at the right time, and the hub works with a number of partners to provide an umbrella of services to support young people.

Co-located services provide wraparound support to ensure all needs are met. This is managed by a Youth Employment Hub Co-ordinator, meaning young people are supported to access the most appropriate service.

The DWP has a number of Youth Work Coaches placed at YEH, to help support young people, including those who will need additional, holistic support to begin or return to work.

The council has commissioned the local charity Amaze to provide re-engagement support for young people with Special Educational Needs - a programme run by a young adult with lived experience of additional needs.

The hub also works with other partners, including council support services, education providers, the National Careers Service, the Prince's Trust, probation and employers, alongside specialist services offering support including disability employment, mental health, independent living, homelessness, substance use, art therapy and support for refugees and asylum seekers.

Since its launch, YEH has supported more than 1,500 young people, with 500 of those securing employment, 115 moving on to an apprenticeship or traineeship, and 450 gaining a positive outcome of an employer engagement or AQA Education Unit Awards.

Making a difference

Councillor Lucy Helliwell, joint chair of the Children, Families and School's Committee, said: "It's fantastic to see the Youth Employment Hub shortlisted in the national LGC awards.

"It's a brilliant service providing much-needed support to help young people progress on their journey to further education or employment.

"The nomination is a well-deserved acknowledgement of the hub's success in making a difference to so many young people.

"This level of service wouldn't be possible without the funding from the DWP and the many partners involved in providing that support.

"I'd like to thank all the employers, education providers and community and voluntary sector organisations who work with us and the DWP to make the hub such a valuable resource for the city."