ROUTES is a youth advice hub located at Merry Hill Shopping Centre in Dudley, designed as a walk-in, youth-friendly space for individuals aged 13–25. It provides integrated early intervention, harm reduction, and whole-life support to young people facing challenges such as mental health issues, substance use, sexual health concerns, and social isolation. ROUTES addresses the decline in youth services across the UK (750 youth clubs closed since 2011) and the resulting gaps in mental health support, crime prevention, and wellbeing services. Traditional delivery failed because services were fragmented, appointment-based, and inaccessible. ROUTES removes barriers by offering open-door, no-referral, stigma-free access in a high-footfall retail location. It was co-produced with young people, ensuring trauma-informed design and youth-led activities. It is delivered by Cranstoun in partnership with local authorities, Violence Reduction Units, Brook Sexual Health, Here4Youth, Reflexions Mental Health, and Job Centre Plus. Social enterprise models like ROUTES deliver cost-effective solutions to complex challenges and align with national priorities on youth mental health and violence reduction. Cranstoun plans to scale ROUTES nationally through partnerships with shopping centre landlords and local authorities. • How can we scale up this kind of innovation and create more effective, responsive, and sustainable people-focused public services? Read our January 2026 report. • More case studies of social enterprise innovation
ROUTES is a youth advice hub located at Merry Hill Shopping Centre in Dudley, designed as a walk-in, youth-friendly space for individuals aged 13–25. It provides integrated early intervention, harm reduction, and whole-life support to young people facing challenges such as mental health issues, substance use, sexual health concerns, and social isolation. ROUTES addresses the decline in youth services across the UK (750 youth clubs closed since 2011) and the resulting gaps in mental health support, crime prevention, and wellbeing services. Traditional delivery failed because services were fragmented, appointment-based, and inaccessible. ROUTES removes barriers by offering open-door, no-referral, stigma-free access in a high-footfall retail location. It was co-produced with young people, ensuring trauma-informed design and youth-led activities. It is delivered by Cranstoun in partnership with local authorities, Violence Reduction Units, Brook Sexual Health, Here4Youth, Reflexions Mental Health, and Job Centre Plus. Social enterprise models like ROUTES deliver cost-effective solutions to complex challenges and align with national priorities on youth mental health and violence reduction. Cranstoun plans to scale ROUTES nationally through partnerships with shopping centre landlords and local authorities. • How can we scale up this kind of innovation and create more effective, responsive, and sustainable people-focused public services? Read our January 2026 report. • More case studies of social enterprise innovation