Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden has vowed to build a 'system for everyone' and tackle the NEET crisis with youth hubs less than an hour away from any young person who needs them. Young Brits will receive 'turbocharged' employment support through nearly 360 youth hubs across the country.
Dutch Inspiration for UK Youth Hubs
Inspired by the Dutch model, these hubs will include wraparound services such as health, housing, and wellbeing support. The Netherlands boasts one of the world's lowest NEET rates at 4.9% among 18 to 24-year-olds, compared to the UK's 13.5%.
Speaking with the Mirror on a trip to Rotterdam, Mr McFadden said: 'We've started on this road, we've got over 100 youth hubs at the moment, but I am convinced that we need to turbocharge this with the roll out of many more Dutch style youth hubs in the UK.'
Expansion Plans
The DWP Secretary announced another 180 hubs next week, adding: 'These are places which get the job centre out of the job centre and meet people where they are. They can be located in sports clubs, community halls, or other places such as libraries. It's not just job centre services, but we're trying to meet people as human beings.'
He emphasised that in the Netherlands, inactivity is a last resort, yet the UK often sees young people 'signed off and written off, without engagement or support. That is a system failure which has failed our young people. We should learn from their approach of having a pathway for every young person.'
Current Hubs and Future Partnerships
Crystal Palace, Sunderland, Sheffield Wednesday, Blackpool and Peterborough United already have youth hubs. The DWP is in talks with Premier League clubs over the Youth Guarantee, a commitment to give every young person the chance to earn or learn.
More than half of Dutch young people have workplace experience by age 19, with a strong focus on early intervention, local accountability and active engagement. Young people who leave education without qualifications continue to receive support, while local authorities, employers, schools and employment services work together to prevent long-term inactivity.
Rising NEET Numbers
The announcement comes after the number of 16 to 24-year-olds not in employment, education or training rose to more than a million in Britain. Former Health Secretary Alan Milburn warned that job and career opportunities for young people are 'not growing, they're shrinking'. He said education, health and welfare systems are no longer fit for purpose in preparing young people for adult life, and 'we are at risk of a lost generation'.
