Political opinion: New funding for government ‘Youth Guarantee’ to help young people into work in Halesowen

Labour has announced new measures to support 16-24-year-olds across Britain. By expanding its Youth Guarantee scheme with £820 million of new funding, the Government is tackling the problem and giving a brighter future to young people in Halesowen.

Labour’s investment will pay for new Youth Hubs to be set up across local communities. Youth Hubs are centres that offer lifechanging support to young people, such as CV advice, skills training, mental health support, housing advice and careers guidance.

The package will also provide hundreds of thousands of new training and work experience placements for young people out of work and claiming benefits, and a new ‘Jobs Guarantee’ that fully subsidises six months of paid employment for 18-21-year-olds who are long-term unemployed on Universal Credit.

These measures will provide critical help for many of the 550 young people claiming unemployment-related benefits in Halesowen – enabling them to get on in life and contribute to the local economy.

Commenting on the announcement, Alex Ballinger MP said: “I am delighted that the Work and Pensions Secretary has committed hundreds of millions of pounds of investment to the young people of this country.

“Too many young people in Halesowen are being held back. 550 young people are stuck on benefits, and this new package of support will provide opportunities for them to turn their lives around after the previous government neglected them.

“Labour has a plan to get Britain working, and this Youth Guarantee will make sure no young person is left behind.”

Work and Pensions Secretary, Pat McFadden, said: "Every young person deserves a fair chance to succeed. When given the right support and opportunities, they will grasp them.

"That’s why we are introducing a range of reforms to help young people take that vital step into the workplace or training and to go on and make something of their lives.

"This funding is a downpayment on young people’s futures and the future of the country, creating real pathways into good jobs and providing work experience, skills training and guaranteed employment.”