Source · Select Committees · Work and Pensions Committee
Recommendation 2
2
Accepted in Part
Paragraph: 50
Expand Youth Hub eligibility for economically inactive young people not claiming Universal Credit
Recommendation
DWP Youth Hubs offer vital services to young people and the provision of mental health support services in all Youth Hubs is a critical part of that. However, not all young people who need this support are currently able to access it. There is also insufficient guidance to ensure that the mental health support provided meets appropriate quality standards across the Youth Hub network. Whilst the work that DWP is doing with integrated mental health support in Youth Hubs is encouraging, DWP must ensure that these services are available to all young people who are out of work across the country. Eligibility requirements should be expanded so that economically inactive young people who are not claiming Universal Credit but want help returning to the labour market are able to access Youth Hub services.
Government Response Summary
The government announced expanded access to the Youth Offer for young people on Universal Credit, but states that extending services to economically inactive young people not claiming Universal Credit remains at the discretion of individual Youth Hubs or their partners.
Paragraph Reference:
50
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
The Government announced in the Spring Budget that it would be expanding access to the Youth Offer to enable more young people on Universal Credit to see a work coach in a Youth Hub or to benefit from the expertise of our Youth Employability coaches. Many Youth Hubs already offer drop-in services of some kind, which include support for those not on Universal Credit. A locally led and place-based approach is fundamental to the Youth Hub model and it is therefore at the discretion of each individual Hub whether they offer support to non-Universal Credit claimants. Further, Youth Hubs are delivered via a joint arrangement between DWP and partners. As such, partners located within a Youth Hub can determine their own criteria for providing support, which may include non-Universal Credit claimants.