Two weeks ago I visited Hull for the first time, partly to watch Charlton (we drew), but also to visit The Warren Youth Project, a youth-run service established in 1983, which provides vital support to young people across the city. It was recommended to me by the Global Fund for Children who part-fund its work.

The building, in a former fire station, has been just been modernised due to a large grant from the Youth Investment Fund  and is in the heart of the city. Hull itself in the latter part of the 20^th century suffered the ups and mostly downs of the move away from industry, manufacturing and maritime/fishing. However, it is a now city moving forward at pace. It was the UK City of Culture in 2017 and named recently by the National Geographic as one of the top 25 places to visit in the world for 2026 – the Old Town is a must visit. Having spent three days there, I clearly saw a city with a sense of civic purpose, identity and camaraderie. A tribute to the importance of having visionary and able civic leaders.

I spent a good hour or so with JJ Tatten, the Chief Executive for the past 11 years, who oversees the whole operation including its team of 24 professionals offering free support, guidance, training, education, counselling, employability skills/training, creative expression activities and services to young people aged 14-25. It is also open access so as well as official referrals/signposting – any young person can walk in and ask for support. 1,501 young people were supported in 2024.

There are many impressive takeaways from the work in the Warren.

Firstly, it linked addressing life and work barriers for young men and women (including counselling and practical support with housing, health and benefits) with the need for purpose and tools – learning accredited skills (coding, design and computer), employability support (for example, CV reviews, interview practice) and the practical ways in supporting young people who perhaps did not have such support at home (cooking). It is also rightly places great store in creativity hence there is a stage for productions and recording studio  – with its own record label.

The key value was about empowering and equipping young men and women both in terms of helping them to overcome life challenges and, as importantly, giving them the tools to take more control of their lives through work and confidence.

Secondly, it is a clear partnership with the statutory and third sectors. With some funding from the former such as through the NHS and also other funding from sources such as the National Lottery and the Global Fund for Children.

Lastly, with respect to boys and young men in particular – there was a real emphasis on allowing young men to be able to express themselves without shame, and for individuals to be positively challenged about any difficult attitudes with an encouragement to understand why those views were wrong. The key was also recognising that so many have a hard life and they turn up feeling there is no hope. The Warren’s aim is to give them hope and the practical tools for life and work – and not posit its work and speak in a language framed by tackling masculinity and the patriarchy.     

The key policy areas were clear.

• Long-term funding certainty is vital from foundations and the public sector. The stop-start nature and uncertainly of bidding means the organisation is never fully “settled” as it always is looking over its shoulder.
• There is a clear need for youth services and youth workers (JJ accurately described them as “socio-economic fire-fighters”) to have a far higher status as a profession.
• Youth services should be a statutory responsibility for local authorities. The lessons of the past need to be learnt when they have been the first in the queue for budget cuts. Although  JJ said  Hull City Council rejected the national abandonment of youth services, choosing instead to offer some funding support to The Warren though the era of austerity.
• The importance of civic leadership and value being placed on projects such as the Warren, where they are seen as a vital part of the fabric of the city. Where its success is seen as a part of the collective success for the city.
• Every local authority, regional mayor and the Government should be beating a path to the Warren, taking the secret of its success and simply recasting it in every large town and city. It is an absolute game-changing gem – as is the whole city.