'Citizen Hub has been a huge help for my family'

"It is being able to go somewhere that is safe and not threatening... I certainly recommend others coming in," said Mary Warren

A grandmother has heaped praise on a careers and skills service for helping her grandchildren by giving them direction and boosting their careers.

Mary Warren, 72, began caring for her two teenage grandsons shortly after the death of their mother, her daughter-in-law, in 2019.

She said both teenagers struggled after leaving school and "would not listen to nan", but visits to the Citizens Hub in St Neots, Cambridgeshire, had helped them secure brighter futures.

Co-founder Alex Hughes said the hub – which was recently relaunched after being forced to close earlier in the year – believed in social mobility and making opportunities as "30% of jobs are created and not found, and we lean into that".

The Citizen Hub 2.0 was reopened by Mary Warren and MP Ian Sollom

Ms Warren moved to St Neots from Hertfordshire in 2017 and was later joined by her grandsons, who she said had a "traumatic younger life".

"They lost their way after leaving school and, being nan, they don't listen to me... I needed to find someone to listen and help."

The teenagers had different needs. One had several exclusions, left school without qualifications and was "never really given a chance".

His brother struggled in some social situations, dropped out of university and was not sure what to do next.

The hub is "built on blood, sweat, tears and a lot of goodwill", said Alex Hughes

Ms Warren heard about opportunities for work through the hub and decided she had "nothing to lose by coming in", she told the BBC.

"They listened and it's been a huge help for the family. It's not just changed where they want to go, it's changed the way they are. They smile more and that helps."

With the hub's help, one of the teenagers has received mentoring from two large pharmaceutical companies and returned to university on a different course.

His brother has started a welding apprenticeship, with support in place to help him become fully qualified.

"Mary's story is a perfect representation of what this is all about," Mr Hughes said.

"As a local lad born and raised here I've always been a good neighbour, and this is an extension of that.

"We take young talent – and by that I mean someone with the characteristics – and put them in front of employers who trust us and make opportunities for people."

St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire MP Ian Sollom said: "We have all sorts of skills gaps, not just in St Neots but across the country, and one way to start closing that gap is by getting good advice and opportunities to young people."

Ian Sollom said the hub was "fresh and successful"