Sheffield Futures' Early Support Hub, based in Sheffield city centre with city-wide reach, has supported more than 400 young people since it launched last year, offering free mental health support and advice and help with issues such anxiety, depression, and social isolation.
Through the Early Support Hub, Sheffield Futures' acclaimed Door 43 service has been able to implement its early intervention approach into communities, targeting schools, Youth Hubs, community groups and uniformed clubs, such as Scouts.
"Through group sessions, we teach young people about coping strategies and techniques, raise awareness of mental health issues, and provide signposting information for further support. By connecting with young people early, our aim is to prevent mental health issues worsening by providing young people with the tools, information and resources they need to cope. Delivering out into the community means that we are connecting with young people in places they are familiar with, providing a more accessible offer, and working in partnership with community groups and schools has strengthened our ability to reach more young people. "
But with central funding due to finish in March 2026, Sheffield Futures are warning that without continued investment, many young people will have nowhere to turn.
Christos Louca, head of delivery said: "Our Early Support Hub has been a lifeline for children and young people across Sheffield, giving them access to trusted adults, safe spaces, and early mental health support before their struggles became crises. We have seen firsthand how early intervention transforms lives, helping young people reclaim confidence, stay engaged in education, and avoid the need for more intensive NHS services. Without continued funding, this vital preventative support will disappear, leaving many young people without the help they need long before they reach breaking point."
Mental health problems among children and young people are rising sharply, with one in five aged 8 - 25 now experiencing conditions like anxiety or depression. Access to support remains limited: in July 2025 over 500,000 young were waiting to start NHS treatment, half of whom had been waiting over a year.
Since 2020, the national Fund the Hubs campaign has called for a national network of open-access hubs so young people can access effective early mental health support and advice in their community. Evidence shows that community-based interventions can be up to 100 times more cost-effective than inpatient or crisis care.
Sheffield Futures' Early Support Hub is one of 24 Early Support Hubs across England, which shared £15 million over two years to expand support, increase outreach, extend opening hours, support more young people, and strengthen links across health, education, and social care.
The Government's Fit for the Future: 10-Year Health Plan promises to shift care closer to communities and focus on prevention. The Plan recognises the Government's flagship Young Futures Hubs as a key mechanism to deliver embedded mental health support to children and young people in every local community.
However, with only 8 early adopter sites for Young Futures Hubs scheduled by March 2026, the ending of current Early Support Hub funding risks leaving thousands of young people without timely, local support. Losing these services would disrupt care, remove vital early support, and reduce access points for young people, causing needs to escalate and more young people to reach crisis point.
One young person said: "The people that lead the course helped me feel comfortable even when I was feeling very uncomfortable before and nervous, the information they gave out has given me a lot of techniques to deal with my anxiety, they also gave me the confidence to apply for a work placement."
Cassandra Harrison, CEO of Youth Access said: "It's hard to square the Government's commitment to prevention and community support with its decision to end funding for early support hubs. These hubs deliver exactly what Ministers and young people say they want - fast, local help that stops problems before they reach crisis point. Pulling the plug now risks undoing years of progress and leaving thousands of young people without vital support.
We urge the Government to set out a clear plan for transitional funding to keep early support hubs open. Without it, vital services will vanish just as demand is rising - undermining the Young Futures vision before it's even begun."