The Knowsley Care Experienced Hub has received a funding boost (£12,052) from STAR Procurement’s Community Impact Fund.
The Care Experienced Hub launched in November 2026 at Our Place in Huyton. It provides a single point of contact for care experienced people in Knowsley – young people who have been in the council’s care at some point in their life.
At The Hub, young people can access a range of services to support them including the council’s Care Experienced People’s team, Knowsley Youth Cabinet, Career Connect, Listening Ear and the Department for Work and Pensions, health drop-in sessions and tailored employment and training support as they prepare for adulthood.
In addition, a range of activities are also available including “tea, toast and talk” drop-in sessions and a lunch club, providing opportunities to connect and socialise.
Greg Brookes, Personal Advisor to Care Experienced People, said:
“I know that our care experienced people are delighted with the funding received from the STAR Community Impact Fund and we are now working with them to generate ideas on the best way to use this funding. It’s really important that our young people come up with the ideas that will make a difference to their lives and I look forward to working with them to developing and delivering an events plan over the next 12 months.”
The offer at The Hub has been developed alongside care experienced people and the funding from the STAR Community Impact Fund will be used to further enhance the offer with a range of events and activities. Care Experienced People will be instrumental in developing the events programme.
Cllr David Lonergan, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said:
“Our care experienced people don’t have the same support networks around them as their peers so ensuring we can provide tailored support is essential. This funding will help considerably towards our care experienced people developing a range of events and initiatives that are aligned to their needs.”
STAR Procurement provides procurement services for a number of local authorities – Knowsley Council, Rochdale Council, St Helen Council, Stockport Council, Tameside Council and Trafford Council. The STAR Community Impact Fund was created to support community initiatives as part of their social value commitment – ensuring public money creates community benefits. The £12,052 funding has been allocated from a dividend that accrues from the shared services’ contracted use of the Social Value Portal.