Nearly £5 million of funding has been secured by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, led by Mayor Dan Norris, to support young people facing barriers to employment.
This initiative is part of the government’s Get Britain Working strategy and aims to reduce the number of young people aged 18-21 who are not in education, employment, or training.
The West of England is one of eight Trailblazer regions in England chosen to pioneer a new approach to improving outcomes for young people. Around 24,000 people in the region aged 16-64 have no qualifications, with a third of this number aged 16-19.
Mayor of the West of England, Dan Norris, commented:
"I'm delighted that my Mayoral Combined Authority has successfully secured £5 million of vital funding to deliver our Youth Guarantee programme. We know that too many young people face real challenges in finding the right opportunities, whether that's in education, training, or work.
"The West of England is a region doing well but full of potential to do even better. Too often, talented people are losing out.
“I’m determined that no young person is left behind. By linking people up with local businesses and investing in skills, we’re not just transforming individuals’ lives, we’re strengthening our regional economy and building a workforce fit for the future."
The year-long initiative will focus on three key cohorts:
- Rural Areas of North East Somerset: Addressing transport barriers to increase participation, progression, and sustained employment.
- South Bristol: Coordinating services and engaging young people in areas of significant deprivation and high youth unemployment.
- South Gloucestershire: Supporting young people with special educational needs, particularly in wards with high numbers of Universal Credit claimants.
A specialist team from the MCA will work closely with businesses to build stronger links between young people and employers, creating employment and work experience opportunities. This collaboration aims to support businesses in taking on young talent and filling staffing gaps.
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