Cornwall Council to Open Youth Hubs in St Austell, Liskeard and Pool

Three Cornwall Towns Set for New Youth Hubs to Support Young People

New youth hubs are set to open in three towns across Cornwall to help disadvantaged young people find pathways into education, training and employment.

The hubs will be located in St Austell, Liskeard and Pool, and are part of a pilot delivered by Cornwall Council in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

They are aimed at young people aged 16 to 24 who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) and who currently receive Universal Credit.

The aim is for all three hubs to be up and running by the end of February this year.

Support for Young People Facing Barriers

The hubs are designed to give young people access to a range of coordinated support services to help them overcome barriers to work or education.

Services available through the hubs will include:

• Skills development and training

• Mental health support

• Housing advice

• Employer engagement

Young people taking part will also be supported to access employment pathways such as work experience placements and volunteering opportunities, helping them build confidence, experience and employability skills.

Hilary Frank, Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Families at Cornwall Council, said:

“This project provides further evidence of the council’s commitment to supporting 16–24-year-olds who are NEET. As a pilot, it will help demonstrate the value of offering young people engagement support alongside targeted services such as mental health and housing support. By integrating these services, we are more likely to help young people move into sustained opportunities in education, training and employment.”

The pilot will be monitored to assess its impact and help shape future ways of supporting young people across Cornwall.

Youth Engagement Project Funding Extended

Cornwall Council has also confirmed that its Youth Engagement Project (YEP) will continue to receive funding until the end of August 2026, extending beyond the end of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) in March 2026.

YEP supports young people aged 16 to 24 who are NEET, or at risk of becoming NEET, helping them take positive steps towards education, training or employment.

The programme provides one-to-one support with employability and life skills, alongside access to courses, work experience and volunteering opportunities.

It also offers tailored support for young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Social Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.

Since launching in 2023, YEP and community partners including Pentreath, Plymouth Argyle Community Trust, Carefree, Pluss and Real Ideas have supported more than 1,750 young people.

Michael Anderton, Youth Engagement Lead for Cornwall Council, said:

“The decision to continue the project reflects our commitment to providing essential support to young people who need it most. By helping them build confidence, independence and skills, we are giving them the best possible chance to move forward into education, training or employment.”

Local MP Welcomes Liskeard Hub

Commenting on the new hub planned for Liskeard, Anna Gelderd, Member of Parliament for South East Cornwall, said:

“I’ve been to many schools and youth organisations across South East Cornwall, and spoken with hundreds of our young people about the issues that matter to them. Support to access education, employment and training is always something that comes up as our young people think about their futures.

“So, it is great that a new youth hub will be opening its doors in Liskeard, helping disadvantaged young people to get the support that they need, and take the right steps towards entering the workforce.”

How to Find Out More

For further information about the Youth Engagement Project, people can contact the YEP Team on 01872 324602 or email [email protected].