Youth Contract to help more young people

The £1bn Youth Contract scheme is largely aimed at getting 18- to 24-year-olds into work. But £126m of the funding is designated to support 16- and 17-year-olds not in education, employment or training (Neet).

Professionals warned last year that the element of the scheme aimed at 16- and 17-year-olds was too “restrictive”, since it was only open to those with no GCSEs at grades A* to C.

But the Department for Education has now announced that the eligibility criteria will be extended, so that support is also available to young people who are or have been in care, as well as those who have been released from youth custody.

According to an official statement, the extension has been made possible because the DfE saved £20m during the “competitive procurement process” that saw seven private and voluntary sector providers appointed to deliver the scheme across 19 regional areas.

Schools minister David Laws said he was delighted that government could now support more of the “hardest-to-help young people” to get back into education or training.

“Helping these young people to get on in life is crucial if we want to build a strong economy and a fair society,” he explained. “We want every young person, regardless of their circumstances, to be able to fulfil their potential.”

Youth justice minister, Jeremy Wright, said: “The extension of the Youth Contract to young people leaving custody is a welcome and important step in the government's commitment to reduce reoffending.”

Rosemary Watt-Wyness, director of strategy and policy at The Prince’s Trust, added: “Young offenders and those who have been in care often face the greatest struggle to get into work, so we welcome the widening of the Youth Contract to help these young people get their lives on track.”