The £1.9bn scheme was introduced by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in September 2020, to create jobs for up to 250,000 16- to 24-year-olds on Universal Credit who are at risk of long term unemployment.
The programme offers placements lasting six months, paying at least the minimum wage, and providing at least 25 hours a week of work.
However, according to an evaluation of the first year of Kickstart by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), just 168,000 young people have been supported by the scheme at a cost £1.26bn.
“As a result of stronger than expected economic growth, it is clear that more people found non-Kickstart jobs than the department initially anticipated,” the report states, however, it notes that DWP has been unable to explain why “many young people who joined Universal Credit at the start of the pandemic and have remained on the benefit since have not moved into Kickstart jobs”.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
