Last week, Pat McFadden MP brought together key local and regional partners at Wolverhampton City College to discuss a coordinated response to rising youth unemployment and economic inactivity across the city. Nationally, the number of young people classified as NEET (not in employment, education or training) has been rising for four years.
Along with representatives from Wolves Foundation, Wolverhampton City College, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), and the West Midlands Combined Authority, Mr McFadden urged greater local coordination to combat youth inactivity.
The city leaders discussed how new pathways could be opened up for young people in Wolverhampton. Wolves Foundation have recently opened a new weekly Skills Hub, ‘Foundation Futures’, which works with the DWP to support young people into employment and training. The hub provides access to a DWP work coach and support for young people with health conditions to overcome barriers to work.
The group also discussed the Government’s new Youth Guarantee, a national scheme to support young people into employment and training, backed by an £820 million investment into employment support. Through the scheme, 18-21 year olds claiming Universal Credit for 18 months will be guaranteed access to work or training.
Pat McFadden MP said: “When our young people succeed, our city succeeds. I refuse to write off a generation of young people in Wolverhampton to a life on benefits. It’s an injustice for them and harms our local economy.
“This is a crisis of opportunity that demands action. Young people in our city deserve our support in guiding them into the chance to learn or earn.
“The Youth Guarantee means that more young people will be able to access training or an apprenticeship. I’m really pleased the Government has pledged more than £800 million in investment into pathways for young people.”
Tom Warren, General Manager of Wolves Foundation, said: “At Wolves Foundation, we work directly in communities to engage people who are out of work, as well as upstreaming in schools to reduce the risk of young people falling into unemployment.
“This work is designed to create positive employment pathways, one of the key components of our long-term strategy, and meeting with Pat and other key local stakeholders provided a really worthwhile opportunity for honest and wide-ranging conversation.
“We recognise that we all have a part to play in collaborating, sharing knowledge and resources to positively impact the employment prospects of residents of the city.”