Hackney Council has approved a £431,000 scheme to provide five places in a supported accommodation project aimed at preventing young boys aged 16 and 17 from entering the youth justice system. The initiative, part of the London Accommodation Pathfinder (LAP) project, is designed to offer a cost-effective alternative to secure training centres and address the over-representation of Black and Global Majority young people in custody.
The LAP project, led by the London Borough of Camden, will offer accommodation and intensive support to young people at risk of custody. Hackney's contribution to the contract, which will run for up to five years, is capped at £431,000. This provision specifically offers five places in the North London Home for young people from Hackney and other participating boroughs.
The Hackney Procurement Board, which met on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, approved the contract award to Provider A, who demonstrated the highest quality and price score in the re-procurement process. The contract is set to commence on or around July 1, 2026. The LAP project is a collaboration between nine London boroughs, with Camden acting as the lead authority, sharing financial liability and making it a more efficient model than individual borough commissioning. The new contract term is for three years, with an option to extend for a further two years.
This scheme aims to address the significant over-representation of London children, particularly those from Black and Global Majority backgrounds, in the youth justice system. Data from 2024-2025 indicated that 58-60% of children on remand to youth custody were from Black or Global Majority backgrounds, despite these groups forming a smaller percentage of the general population.
The LAP project provides a restorative and psychologically informed approach to improve outcomes for these children. Specific support includes an annual bursary for each child, intensive work with families, accredited education and independent living skills training, a dedicated psychologist, and waking night staff. The service also involves parents, statutory services, third sector organizations, and the children themselves.
The criteria for identifying young boys aged 16 and 17 as being 'at risk of custody' are not explicitly detailed beyond their involvement with the youth justice system or behaviours that could lead to such involvement. However, the project specifically targets male children, including those from Black and mixed heritage backgrounds, who are overrepresented in youth custody figures.
The LAP project offers significant cost avoidance for Hackney Council compared to alternative placements. The weekly unit cost for the LAP is £2,990, or a daily rate of £427, which is more cost-effective than the current daily rate of £513.11 for Secure Training Centres (STCs). For every Hackney child accommodated in the LAP rather than an STC, the council achieves a cost avoidance of £3,597 per week. While the LAP is more expensive than a Young Offenders Institute (YOI), the negative impacts of YOI placements, such as poor outcomes and high re-offending rates, contribute to significant non-financial savings and better long-term outcomes for the children.
The success of the LAP project will be measured through Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) detailed in 'Exempt appendix 7, Camden Key Performance Indicators (KPI's)'. While the specific KPIs will be agreed during contract mobilization, the project's objectives include reducing custody rates, improving outcomes through reduced custody and recidivism, improved mental health, and enhanced employment skills for independent living. The project is subject to rigorous and regular contract quality assurance by all partner authorities and OFSTED. The provider, Centrepoint Soho, has demonstrated strengths in embedding a psychologically informed environment and working with families.
The LAP project is a pan-London initiative involving nine participating boroughs: Camden (lead borough), Enfield, Hackney, Haringey, Islington, Kingston, Newham, Richmond, and Waltham Forest. Barnet is the host borough.
Further details on the Hackney Council's decision can be found in the Public reports pack Wednesday 22-Jul-2026 14.00 Hackney Procurement Board and the Decisions Wednesday 22-Jul-2026 14.00 Hackney Procurement Board.