UK to Launch £45 Million Youth Guarantee to Help Young People “Earn or Learn”

The Department for Work and Pensions is preparing to introduce new support for benefit claimants born in specific years, including the £45 million Youth Guarantee scheme unveiled by Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall. This initiative promises every 18 to 21-year-old in England the opportunity to either gain employment or pursue further education. The UK government's "Get Britain Working" white paper acknowledges the challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among young people aged 16-24 who are currently not in education, employment, or training (NEETs), estimated at around 987,000 and rising.

In recent remarks in Parliament, Labour Party MP Liz Kendall emphasized the imminent publication of the "Get Britain Working" White Paper, supported by a £240 million investment announced in the Budget. She stressed the importance of local engagement, highlighting that decisions made in Whitehall may not always be best suited for communities like Peterborough, Leicester, or Leeds.

Kendall underscored the collaborative efforts between the Department of Health and Social Care and the Department for Work and Pensions to integrate health and social care with employment initiatives. She criticized previous administrations for neglecting to effectively coordinate work, health, and skills reforms, pledging that the current government's comprehensive plan aims to reintegrate 2.8 million people sidelined due to long-term illness back into the workforce

Overall, the government's strategy focuses on investing in employment opportunities to revitalize the economy and improve prospects for individuals seeking to build better lives through work.