Tag: Press Release

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 13 February 2026.

Early Support Hubs across England to receive a £7 million funding boost to bolster services for young people.

• 10,000 extra interventions to help young people facing mental health challenges.
• Delivers on 10 Year Health Plan commitment to extend mental health support for children and young people. 
• Comes as nation marks Children and Young People’s Mental Health Week. 

Thousands more young people will get the mental health support they need thanks to a £7 million funding boost for Early Support Hubs across England. 

Early Support Hubs are community-based services, which provide drop-in mental health support for young people aged 11-25 with a range of issues, helping to prevent more severe mental illness without the need for a referral or doctor’s appointment.  

The investment will allow the 24 existing hubs to expand services in local communities, delivering 10,000 additional mental health and wellbeing interventions over the next twelve months. This could include counselling, group work, therapeutic support and specialist advice. 

Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting said: 

No young person should suffer in silence with their mental health. We’re investing in the wellbeing of the next generation, making sure every young person has the best start in life and the support they need to grow, to flourish, and to thrive. 

Early Support Hubs are already making a real difference and this funding boost will expand services to support more young people in communities across the country. 

Alongside this, we’re investing an extra £688 million in mental health services this year and are well on our way to recruiting 8,500 additional mental health workers across children’s and adult services.

Findings from the Early Support Hubs programme will shape the government’s plans for the rollout Young Futures Hubs, informing how open-access mental health care is delivered in the future.  

There is a high demand for mental health services within communities. In 2023, approximately 1 in 5 people aged 8 to 25 years had a mental disorder. 

Early Support Hubs are a step towards meeting that demand. Research also indicates the hubs attract groups that are less likely to engage with traditional NHS or school-based services, including older teenagers and those from an ethnic minority background.  

Minister for Early Education, Olivia Bailey said: 

Every young person deserves access to mental health support when they need it, without barriers or long waits. 

Early Support Hubs are making a real difference in communities, complementing the rollout of mental health support teams in all schools in England which has already reached six in ten children. 

These services are vital so that every young person can achieve and thrive, getting timely support in their local areas, whether that’s group sessions, or simply a safe space to talk.

Des Fletcher, a young person who has received support from the Early Support Hub, Young Devon said:  

I have struggled with anxiety and low mood which has had a big impact on my life. Young Devon is the only service that actually gives that time, effort and non-judgemental space for me to be me. 

Support like this is so important for young people that might be struggling. I hope that young people in every community can have a place like this to turn to for their mental health and wellbeing.

Funding for Early Support Hubs is just one of the many ways this government is supporting young people’s mental health, including investing an extra £688 million in mental health services this year, hiring 7,000 additional mental health workers, as well as accelerating the rollout of Mental Health Support Teams in schools and colleges. 

Landmark legislation to reform the Mental Health Act has also strengthened the rights of children and young people around their care and treatment.  

This government is building an NHS fit for the future, giving mental health the attention it deserves, creating the healthiest ever generation of children, and ensuring everyone receives the support they need, closer to home. 

Connie Muttock, Head of Policy at the Centre for Young Lives, said:  

Childhood is a crucial window where the right support can be transformational. Early Support Hubs can be a lifeline, providing accessible, youth-friendly community spaces meeting young people’s needs holistically.  

The decision to extend funding for these vital services is welcome, and we very much hope this is the first part of a large and long-term package of support to match the scale of the mental health crisis young people are currently coping with alone.

Gemma Byrne, Policy and Influencing Manager at Mind, said:  

We’re delighted to see the extension of funding for 24 early support hubs around the country.

As children, young people and their families navigate long waiting lists, these hubs are a lifeline offering tailored support in the heart of local communities without needing a referral.

We now need to see a national commitment to delivering a hub in every local authority area by 2035, to make sure every young person with a mental health problem can get the care they need before reaching crisis point.

Andy Bell, Chief Executive, Centre for Mental Health, said: 

Today’s announcement to extend funding for 24 early support hubs for young people’s mental health is a welcome step and will make a real difference. We have long called for a national rollout of hubs so that all children and young people can access timely, community-based mental health support. 

It is vital that insights from this programme shape the Government’s plans for Young Futures Hubs, informing how open-access mental health provision is delivered and sustained. As set out in the Government’s manifesto, this must mean genuinely open access, co-produced with young people, with mental health support available up to the age of 25.

Cassandra Harrison, CEO of Youth Access said:  

We welcome the Government’s decision to extend funding for 24 early support hubs for another year.

These hubs make a real difference to thousands of young people struggling with their mental health and wellbeing, providing vital, community-based support and advice that helps prevent problems from escalating and eases pressure on the NHS.

It is now essential that there is a clear plan for the long-term sustainability and expansion of these hubs, ensuring that community-based support remains at the heart of the national approach to children and young people’s mental health.

Jack O’Neill, Director of Policy, Advocacy and Influencing, The Children’s Society said:  

This will come as a relief to the thousands of young people who rely on early support when problems first surface, before they escalate into crisis or cause lasting harm.

 The extra year of funding provides vital breathing space as demand from young people continues to rise across the country. But this must be more than a stopgap. It is crucial that this work shapes the future of local services young people depend on. There is little sense in redesigning the system without securing and building on what we already know works.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 13 February 2026.

The government is launching a consultation on extending smoke-free places and introducing vape-free and heated tobacco-free spaces.

• Consultation on extending smoke-free places and introducing vape-free and heated tobacco-free spaces – as part of the 10 Year Health Plan
• Kids’ playgrounds and schools set to be smoke, vape and heated tobacco-free to better protect children and vulnerable people from harm
• Outside hospitals to be smoke and heated tobacco-free. Outdoor hospitality and wide-open public spaces not included 

Children and medically vulnerable people will be better protected under plans to ban smoking from playgrounds, schools and hospitals. 

The government has today (13 February 2026) launched a public consultation to seek views on stopping people smoking, vaping or using heated tobacco in public playgrounds and education settings in England. 

Areas outside healthcare locations – such as hospitals – would also become smoke-free and heated tobacco-free under the proposals.

Indoor spaces, where smoking is already banned, would also become vape-free and heated tobacco-free, subject to consultation. 

Outdoor hospitality settings, including pub gardens and open public spaces, are not included in the proposals. Private homes and private outdoor spaces are also out of scope. 

These proposals form part of the government’s 10 Year Health Plan to shift the focus of the NHS from sickness to prevention, tackling the root causes of ill health and reducing long-term pressure on services. 

Second-hand smoke is harmful even outdoors, with children and medically vulnerable people at greatest risk. By acting in places where young people gather and patients receive care, the government aims to prevent avoidable harm before it happens and support a healthier generation.

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, said: 

No child in a playground or hospital patient should suffer because someone else chooses to smoke. 

Second-hand smoke increases the risk of heart disease and lung cancer and we want to protect children and the sick from harm. 

Prevention is better than cure, so this government is taking pressure off the NHS and building a healthier Britain where everyone lives well for longer.

This consultation marks an important step towards implementing the landmark Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which will create a smoke-free generation and protect young people from a lifetime of addiction. The bill is currently progressing through Parliament. 

There is no safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke, and children, pregnant women and people with underlying health conditions are particularly vulnerable.

Short-term exposure can cause immediate symptoms such as eye irritation, coughing and headaches, while long-term exposure significantly increases the risk of chronic disease. 

Professor Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for England, said: 

People who do not smoke but who are exposed to second-hand smoke can suffer significant harmful effects on their health, including an increased risk of asthma, poor birth outcomes, several cancers, stroke and heart disease. The health risks are greatest for children, pregnant women and people with medical conditions. 

No smoker wants to harm people, but with second-hand smoke they do – and these measures would reduce the harm second-hand smoke causes the most medically vulnerable in our society.

It will also seek views on setting outdoor boundaries, exemptions and designated smoking areas, and how to inform people of restrictions to ensure the rules are proportionate and workable. 

There will be a minimum of 6 months between any regulations being made and them coming into force, with guidance available on how to make sure people are aware of and follow the rules. 

Enforcement would mirror existing smoke-free laws, where compliance has historically been extremely high. 

Business Minister, Kate Dearden, said: 

These are targeted proposals to protect children and families from second-hand smoke and vaping, without placing extra pressure on pubs, restaurants or the wider hospitality sector.

We have been clear that we will support businesses, and after listening to their concerns, we have excluded outdoor hospitality spaces from these changes. 

Dr Charmaine Griffiths, Chief Executive of British Heart Foundation, said: 

No child should have to walk through a cloud of deadly second-hand smoke on their way to the classroom or playground, nor should any patient be exposed to harm on hospital grounds. 

We strongly support the government’s consultation and the landmark legislation behind it, and we call for urgent implementation to protect everyone from harm. Tough measures must be taken to prevent smoking from robbing more families of their loved ones and harming vulnerable people.

Cancer Research UK’s Executive Director of Policy and Information, Dr Ian Walker, said: 

We support the UK government taking action to create a smoke-free future and protect the most vulnerable in society. This consultation is an important opportunity for people to share their views on smoke-free, heated tobacco-free and vape-free places in England, helping to ensure decisions are guided by the strongest evidence.

Smoking is the leading cause of cancer deaths in England, and we can’t afford to lose any momentum in the fight against tobacco. The government must now swiftly pass and implement the historic Tobacco and Vapes Bill to protect future generations from a lifetime of deadly and costly addiction.

Hazel Cheeseman, Chief Executive of Action on Smoking and Health, said:

Smoke-free legislation has been one of the greatest public health successes of the last 20 years, saving lives, improving health and changing social norms for the better.

With smoking now far less common than when the law was introduced, the public rightly expects the same protections to extend to shared outdoor spaces where people are still being exposed to harmful second-hand smoke.

Peter Roderick, Spokesperson for Addiction for the Association of Directors of Public Health, said:

Smoking doesn’t just kill smokers. It also kills non-smokers, and causes a range of illnesses including cancers, heart and lung diseases that affect adults and children alike, and is linked to stillbirth and sudden infant death syndrome.

We know that these numbers have decreased since the introduction of restrictions on smoking in public places. Introducing more smoke-free spaces will save even more lives, protect future generations and give freedom to live a healthier life to the 88% of people – including thousands of medically vulnerable people – who don’t smoke. These changes are not only needed, but they also have strong public support and it is vital that we make them happen as soon as possible.

Sarah Sleet, Chief Executive at Asthma + Lung UK, said:

No one should be forced to breathe in air that could harm their health, and banning smoking and vaping in more public places would be a significant step towards better lung health for all. There is no safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke, even in outdoor spaces. Tobacco smoke contains dangerous chemicals, including tar and carbon monoxide, which puts lungs at risk – and children and people with underlying health conditions are particularly vulnerable. This is why banning smoking in places such as outside schools and hospitals is critical.

The risks of smoking are well documented, but vaping among non-smokers – particularly young people – is also a real concern. More research is needed into the long-term impact of vaping, but in the meantime a ban in indoor public spaces would help to reduce uptake and protect people whose lung conditions are triggered by vaping. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill is a once in a generation chance to create a smoke-free generation and protect the lungs of future generations.