The Government has handed more than £420,000 of funding to extend a YES Hub for young people for another four years.

The Pendle YES Hub is the first of eight projects being backed by the Nelson Town Deal board as part of the £25 million new towns fund which has been won for Nelson.

The one stop shop was originally a pilot project for young people affected by the pandemic and was set up to build confidence, health and wellbeing and to provide access to training, skills and learning opportunities including work placements to boost employability.

Councillor Nadeem Ahmed, leader of Pendle Borough Council said: "It’s great news that the council has agreed that Active Lancashire, who’ve run the project so successfully for its first year, should continue to provide this valuable service for Pendle.”

Pendle’s MP Andrew Stephenson, who visited the YES Hub this week, said: “The YES Hub has proved to be a great success in its first year, helping 100 young people into employment since opening in February 2021.

“The Government funding to extend it is fantastic news for young people aged 16 to 24 in Pendle."

Chief Executive of Active Lancashire, Adrian Leather, said: “Having helped over 100 young local people into employment since Pendle YES Hub opened last year, we are looking forward to helping even more.

“The announcement of the renewal of our contract means we’ll be able to continue running free activities to boost the confidence of young people and tailored coaching to help them on their journey into work.”

Stephen Barnes, who chairs the Nelson Town Deal Board, explained how the YES Hub fits into the wider Town Deal project.

He said: "Getting young people into employment and training is a number one priority not only for the Town Deal Board but also for our local economy.

“I am delighted that our partnership project has got funding to keep it going.

“The Hub will help hundreds of young people gain employment or training in collaboration with over 100 employers and top performing Nelson and Colne College."

Pendle YES Hub is based at 39-41 Scotland Road, Nelson, and is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 3.30pm.

Young people are being urged to take up the support offered for a brighter future by calling in or emailing PendleYesHub@activelancashire.org.uk

Andrew Parkin from the Nelson and Colne College Group said: “We are proud of the role we play in continuing to develop Pendle’s YES Hub as a key part of our being on the Nelson Town Deal Board.

“We know that entering the world of work can be a daunting prospect for young people.

“Coaches at the YES Hub work to get young people ready to take on their next challenge.

“They then match young people with local opportunities - whether it’s more training or to help them move into employment.”