New measures will support young people achieve their potential and access fulfilling opportunities – Emma Foody MP
Emma Foody, Member of Parliament for Cramlington and Killingworth has highlighted in Parliament the importance of supporting young people into employment, education or training.
Following the announcement of the extension of the Government’s Youth Guarantee, Ms Foody spoke in Parliament during Department for Work and Pension Questions about the need to tackle this issue to allow young people across the Cramlington and Killingworth constituency and country to reach their potential.
The government have announced that, over the next three years, young people aged 16-24 across Great Britain are set to benefit from £820 million investment, designed to support them into employment and learning.
Speaking in Parliament during Work and Pensions Questions on 8 December, Ms Foody said;
“Over 400 16-24-year-olds across my Cramlington and Killingworth constituency are not in Education, Employment or Training, and are claiming unemployment-related benefits.
“This damages their earning potential and development, as well as missing out on vital life skills. How will this government’s Youth Guarantee provide support to those young people to access the skills and support they need to access fulfilling opportunities?”
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Pat McFadden in response stated:
“My Hon. Friend is right to raise this issue, the numbers not in employment, education or training have been going in this direction for several years.
“That is why we brought forward the Youth Guarantee which will offer work experience, training, and ultimately subsidised work – offering hope, where previously there was only neglect.”
The Youth Guarantee will provide hundreds of thousands of new training and work experience placements for young people out of work and claiming benefits, alongside new Youth Hubs offering life changing support to young people, such as CV advice, skills training, mental health support, housing advice and careers guidance.
Following the exchange, Ms Foody said;
“Too many young people across my area and our region are being held back. The previous government allowed hundreds of talented, aspirational local young people to be stuck on benefits feeling hopeless and lost.
“The Youth Guarantee forms part of a new social contract with young people and will make sure no one is left behind and offers a package of support to enable them to fulfil their potential and real opportunity”.