Young people in Erith and Thamesmead are set to benefit from new Youth Hubs announced by the Government as part of a national drive to tackle youth unemployment.
This week, the Government confirmed that almost 180 new Youth Hubs will be created across the country, with Greenwich and Bexley boroughs scheduled to benefit in Year Two of the scheme.
The hubs will support 16 to 24-year-olds by bringing together employment advice, skills training, careers guidance, mental health support, housing advice and links to employers offering jobs and apprenticeships.
The announcement follows the Milburn Report on Young People and Work, which warned that too many young people face barriers to opportunity. Nationally, around one million young people are currently not in education, employment or training.
Youth Hubs form part of the Government’s £2.5 billion Youth Guarantee programme, which aims to help young people move into work, education or training and ensure that no young person is more than one hour away from support by public transport.
While specific venues have not yet been confirmed, locations will be developed locally with partners, based on need, readiness and existing community links.
Abena Oppong-Asare, MP for Erith and Thamesmead, welcomed the announcement after campaigning for better youth services in her constituency. She said:
“Too many young people in Erith and Thamesmead are finding it harder to get their first job and feel that the system is not working for them.
“I am proud that both Greenwich and Bexley are set to benefit from the Government’s new Youth Hubs scheme, bringing practical support, training, advice and employer links closer to home.
“This is a real boost for local opportunity and will help more young people move into work, education or training.
“I will be working to ensure these hubs serve our community well. If you run a local organisation or business and are interested in supporting or hosting a Youth Hub, please get in touch.”
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said:
“We want to make sure young people are getting real, personalised support, that’s not one size fits all. I’ve seen how it can change lives.
“Our Youth Hubs have over the past two years pioneered this approach – bringing job centre services together with mental health support, housing advice and more.
“I want to turbocharge this rollout so that every young person has this support within reach that can help them move into learning or earning.”
The Government has said the hubs are based on the Dutch “Jongerenpunt” model, which brings multiple services together in one place.
The Youth Guarantee also includes support for businesses to hire young workers, including a Youth Jobs Grant worth £3,000 for every 18 to 24-year-old hired who has been on Universal Credit for six months, and a £2,000 apprenticeship incentive for small businesses taking on a new employee aged 16 to 24.
