Summary
The UK government has announced £820 million to help young people aged 18 to 21 who are not working or studying. This funding will provide paid work placements and support through a scheme known as the Youth Guarantee. The initiative aims to address the high number of young people not in education, employment, or training.
Key Facts
- The £820 million funding will be used for the Youth Guarantee scheme over three years.
- The scheme targets 18 to 21-year-olds in England who have been on Universal Credit for 18 months without working or studying.
- It offers six-month paid work placements to these young people.
- The current number of 16 to 24-year-olds not in education, employment, or training (Neets) in the UK is nearly 946,000.
- The government also plans to make apprenticeship training free for under-25s at small and medium businesses.
- The unemployment and economic inactivity among young people are high, partly due to long-term sickness.
- Official statistics indicate that about 580,000 Neets are considered economically inactive, and 366,000 are unemployed.
- The new plan is part of a broader welfare reform in the UK Budget.
