A new hub for young people has opened in Sunderland, bringing a range of services together under one roof to offer a welcoming and safe space for advice and support.
Based on the ground floor of the Stanfield Centre in Hendon, the hub has been designed for care-experienced young people, as well as those supported by the Youth Drug and Alcohol Project and Targeted Youth Services.
It brings together services and facilities to help young people build confidence, develop life skills, meet socially, and access the advice and opportunities they need as they move towards independence. It will provide a single point of access to services relating to housing, education, employment, health and wellbeing.
The space offers a range of facilities, including cooking equipment, laundry facilities, ICT equipment and internet access, as well as comfortable spaces where young people can meet and socialise.
Building on the support already delivered by Together for Childrenβs Next Steps team at the Stanfield Centre, the hub will bring together a range of partner organisations to provide housing, education, employment, health and wellbeing support.
It will also host activities, education sessions and targeted programmes for young people, delivered by Sunderland Virtual School, the councilβs Learning and Skills team, and other partners.
Helen Monks,Β Director of Children's Social CareΒ at Together for Children, said:Β
Together for Children already provides a wide range of support for care experienced young people through our Next Steps team, wider services and partner organisations. This ranges from help with everyday life, such as free gym membership to support with driving lessons, essential household items, attending medical appointments, completing official forms, securing housing and accessing financial assistance for education and training.
However, we wanted to create a space that young people could truly call their own. The hub has been designed to be flexible giving young people somewhere they can use in whatever way works best for them, whether that's meeting their personal advisors, accessing support, meeting friends, studying, developing life skills, meeting a professional about support they need or simply spending time in a safe and welcoming environment.
As well as bringing services together in one place, the hub offers practical facilities such as laundry equipment, internet access and clothing support, helping to make sure young people can access the things they need day-to-day while building confidence and independence.
The hub has been funded by the Governmentβs Better Youth Spaces fund and developed by Next Steps, Sunderland City Councilβs Leaving Care team and YDAP.
Councillor Carol Giles, Sunderland City Council's Cabinet Member for Childrenβs Services, Education and Social Mobility, said:
We want every care experienced young person in Sunderland to have the support, opportunities and encouragement they need to fulfil their potential.
This new Young Personβs hub provides a welcoming space where young people can access practical help, meet with support services, connect with friends and build the skills and confidence they need for independent living. By bringing a range of services together in one place, we're making it easier for young people to get the support they need, when they need it.
The hub forms part of Sunderland's ongoing commitment to helping care experienced young people access the opportunities, advice and practical support they need to thrive.
