Where young people feel seen, supported and encouraged to shine.
Our Story – Little Lights Young Futures Hub
A community-led social enterprise rooted in Birmingham, building brighter futures through direction, skills and long-term support.
Little Lights CIC is a community-led social enterprise based in Birmingham. What began as a small grassroots initiative has grown into a movement focused on creating safe, practical and empowering spaces for young people across the city.
Over the past year, we have built a growing community of nearly 200 families. Through workshops, outreach, mentoring and collaboration with local organisations, we have listened carefully to the needs of Birmingham’s young people.
Our approach is rooted in compassion, consistency and long-term support. We aim to be a bridge between mental wellbeing, practical direction and real opportunities for growth.
The Challenge We Face in Birmingham
Many young people in Birmingham face significant barriers — including unemployment, limited access to safe community spaces, financial hardship and reduced opportunities for personal development.
These challenges often lead to isolation, low confidence and disconnection from education or employment pathways. The need for structured, supportive and accessible youth-focused environments has never been greater.
Birmingham – Key Facts (Why This Matters)
We are building Little Lights Young Futures Hub in response to a growing need in Birmingham: young people facing mental health pressures alongside limited pathways into training and employment.
Birmingham’s 18–24 youth claimant rate was reported at 18.3%, with a youth claimant count of 15,495.
Source: Birmingham City Council – Claimant Count Update (Feb 2026).
In 2023, 20.3% of 8–16 year-olds had a probable mental disorder. Among 17–19 year-olds, it was 23.3%.
Source: NHS England / NHS Digital (2023).
What this means: many young people are navigating mental health challenges while also facing uncertainty about work, training and independence. Little Lights Young Futures Hub provides a consistent bridge between wellbeing, self-care, skills development and real-life direction.
Our Response
Little Lights Young Futures Hub is our next step forward. We are developing a dedicated community youth space in Birmingham where young people can access:
- Practical skills training (hospitality, enterprise and employability skills)
- Mentoring and confidence-building programmes
- Wellbeing and self-care workshops
- Community connection and safe social spaces
Our approach is rooted in compassion, consistency and long-term support. We aim to be a bridge between mental wellbeing, practical direction and real opportunities for growth.
Our Vision for Birmingham
Our long-term vision is to secure a permanent physical space in Birmingham that operates as a vibrant youth hub — a place where young people feel seen, supported and equipped to build brighter futures.
This hub will combine enterprise, wellbeing and community under one roof, ensuring that support is not temporary, but sustainable and transformational.
Little Lights CIC 