A new youth advice hub has opened in Dudley to provide young people with a safe space to seek support.

Routes, which is located in Merry Hill Shopping Centre, was officially opened on October 18 by the Mayor of Dudley, Cllr Hilary Bills.

Operated by Cranstoun, a service that has been helping local people rebuild their lives for over 50 years, the hub will provide a walk—in service for people aged 13-25 to access ‘whole life support’.

Routes will allow young people to seek advice on a whole range of issues including mental health struggles, drug and alcohol abuse and sexual health concerns.

Latitia Simms, manager of the hub, said: “More must be done to reach young people who would benefit from support in a trauma-informed environment.

“We want this service to be as accessible as possible to young people across the borough.

“Merry Hill has a high footfall and is a key transport hub with many young people passing through.

“At Cranstoun, we believe that every young person deserves to feel safe, understood and supported.

“We want to create a space for young people to turn to when they experience challenges or adversity in their day-to-day lives.

“We will build relationships based on trust and understanding, and aim to empower young people to reach their potential, no matter their circumstances.”

🎀 ✂️ We are officially open!

Thank you so much to everyone who has come along to join us for the launch.

We’re delighted with the positivity and warmth about the space and will be providing more details over the coming days and weeks! pic.twitter.com/xbnC2Nqz5q

The opening of Routes comes at a time where youth services are rapidly declining across the UK, with 750 youth clubs having closed down since 2011.

This open-door, one-stop destination for advice will allow more young people than ever before to access support in Dudley.

Simon Foster, the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “Our young people in Dudley have helped us tremendously in contributing to the development of Routes, to ensure it is a safe and accessible space.

“From selecting the design of the hub to the services available, young people have been central to this process.

“We must believe in, engage with, listen to, work with and invest in our young people in order to support them to flourish and feel safe in their community.”

The hub will be open Tuesday-Friday, 3pm – 7pm and on Saturdays from 10am – 2pm for young people to access their service without needing to pre-book an appointment.