Ed Miliband, the labour leader, will today endorse proposals to introduce a youth allowance linked to being enrolled in training.
Targeted at those who have not obtained a level three qualification, the youth allowance will replace job seekers allowance (JSA) payments with a parental means-tested youth allowance for those aged 18 to 21 years.
The Guardian reports that this welfare reform will effect around seven out of 10, of the 18-to-21-year-olds currently claiming JSA, and initially save £65m.
The youth allowance is a proposal from the final report of the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), Condition of Britain programme, published today.
During his speech at the report’s launch later this morning Mr Miliband will say “Britain’s young people who do not have the skills they need for work should be in training, not on benefits.”
Charlotte Bosworth, Director of Skills and Employment at OCR, comments:
It is fantastic that the topic of how we can improve the educational and training outcomes for young people is being addressed by all the main political parties. It is a highly important subject that goes to the heart of how we prepare the next generation for the world of work and seek the best methods to ensure young people have the necessary mix of skills, attributes and confidence to offer to prospective employers.
It is vital that wide–ranging opportunities are afforded to everyone regardless of background, geographic location or individual ability so that they can realise the potential they have. The attainment of both formal qualifications and the benefits and proven skills derived from well-planned vocational training support is a powerful combination any young person should be seeking, to provide them with best chance of securing future employment.
Such employment skills need to be taught within a supportive, accessible and inspirational teaching environment, where the type of assessment and the increasing credibility attached to vocational learning helps young people to engage more fully with the learning process. It will also hopefully encourage higher number to voluntarily seek out employment-based training opportunities, rather than being forced to do so.
This is a dangerous policy. Most young people without parental support are most likely survivors of domestic abuse or human trafficking (slavery). Yes, these people exist in the UK. They have no parental support, and now you’re gonna cull them by cutting off their lifeline. If this employment-based training is free of charge then that’s great, but they cannot live on air alone. Even if their parents are in the UK, it’s no guarantee that they’ll support their young. We are in a narcissistic age. How about these government officials cutting down their own “overgrown income” instead? It’s not like they’re gonna die with their income lowered, even when it’s lowered, it’s gonna be way over the survival amount anyway.