Extend Kickstart and Universal Credit uplift to support young people, MPs urge
Fiona Simpson
Thursday, May 20, 2021
Initiatives including the Kickstart Jobs scheme and the £20 Universal Credit uplift must be extended to support young people “disproportionately” affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, a cross-party group of MPs has found.
An inquiry into the economic impact of Covid-19 launched by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Youth Affairs has found that young people have had their financial, emotional and vocational wellbeing inordinately affected by the pandemic, and that a holistic approach is needed in order to aid their recovery.
In addition to job losses, educational disruption and financial pressures, young people have also experienced increased family strain, heightened anxiety and exacerbated mental health issues as a result of the pandemic, the report states, adding that the APPG found an “inextricable” link between these areas.
This was “further compounded by the overall uncertainty of employment prospects for young people in the future,” it adds.
In a bid to reduce the long-term impact of these issues caused by the pandemic, MPs have called on the government to “extend to key provisions and schemes currently benefiting young people”, such as the £20 uplift to Universal Credit and Kickstart, Apprenticeship and Trainee schemes which are set to end in the autumn.
It has also called for further support for young people on schemes like Kickstart once time-limited placements have finished including financial incentives for prospective employers.
MPs have also criticised the government’s response to the pandemic’s impact on youth employment over “gaps missing precarious, seasonal and newly self-employed workers”.
“A premature end to current support systems could have a greater detrimental effect on young people’s achievements and leave them stranded,” the group states.
It is also calling for a dedicated youth strategy to be brought forward, providing long-term, stable funding for universal youth service provision, as well as inclusion of young people in the policy decisions that affect them following on from the pandemic.
Lloyd Russell-Moyle, chair of the APPG on Youth Affairs said: “This latest report shows that young people as a generation have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic.
“What we have found is that young people are in dire need of support at almost every juncture. We note the government’s good will in providing some support, but it is not enough. We believe that our recommendations will work to significantly reduce the hardships faced by so many as they struggle to make ends meet and decide what the next step should be.
“Investing in the future of young people not only helps to clear a path of recovery for them but also for the country, as a strong youth workforce with a bright economic future will feed into and benefit from the UK economy as a whole. There is real potential to create an efficient and constructive cycle of education, employment and support for young people, and now is the time to set it in motion.”
Denise Hatton, chief executive of YMCA England and Wales, added: “Wrap-around support is needed in order to restore young people’s confidence and ultimately strengthen their educational and employment potential. Investment in youth services is vital to alleviate the isolation, anxiety and family strain plaguing so many young people, while investment in educational experience and employment opportunities will ensure that young people enter the working world prepared to carve out a successful economic future.”
