Nearly £6m allocated to help unemployed young people find work

A new £5.7m initiative, Connect to Work, is being launched across the West Midlands to help thousands of unemployed young people find work.

The funding for the project, secured by West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker, was approved at the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) Investment Board on April 7.

Connect to Work is expected to assist up to 1,400 young people, aged 18-24 and with health conditions, in finding jobs during its first year, with the potential to support thousands more in subsequent years.

The initiative builds on the Thrive into Work programme, which has helped nearly 9,800 people since 2018.

The WMCA will collaborate with its seven constituent councils, partners and local businesses to provide tailored support and ensure young people are matched with the right jobs, helping them stay employed.

Youth unemployment in parts of the West Midlands is more than double the national average, with over 26,000 young people aged 18-24 claiming unemployment-related benefits.

Parker said: “Every person in our region should have the same access to work opportunities – including people with disabilities or long-term health conditions. By having the same access to opportunities, everyone has the freedom to make the right choices for them – to help them earn, live independently and improve their health and well-being. The funding I have secured for the Connect to Work initiative will support young people to do just that – helping to drive down youth unemployment and get our economy back on track.”

The West Midlands is one of eight Youth Guarantee Trailblazers in England, focused on supporting young people who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET).

It is part of the wider £250m Get Britain Working campaign announced in the Chancellor’s autumn budget, aiming to develop new ways to get people into jobs while addressing health-related economic inactivity.