Tag: DWP

Major boost for young people with 80 new Youth Hubs

SPFL Trust partners with DWP

Young people are set to benefit from expanded employment support through a further 80 new Youth Hubs as the Government continues to provide opportunity across the UK.

  • 80 new Youth Hub locations confirmed across Great Britain.
  • Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) Trust partners with DWP to support Britain’s Youth Hubs – taking jobs and opportunity straight to the heart of communities.
  • Expansion builds on commitment for every local area across Great Britain to have a Youth Hub.
  • Work with wider stakeholders – including the English Premier League – ongoing, to give every young person access to support locally.

Young people are set to benefit from expanded employment support through a further 80 new Youth Hubs as the Government continues to provide opportunity across the country.

Youth Hubs bring together Jobcentre Plus, local authority services, employers and training providers under one roof to support young people aged 16 to 24.

As part of this expansion, every Youth Hub will meet a set of minimum standards, ensuring young people can access on-site jobcentre support alongside mental health and housing support, skills and training opportunities, careers guidance and direct connections to employers with live job and apprenticeship opportunities.

The expansion is the latest step towards bringing Youth Hubs to every area in Great Britain to establish a national network and address the almost one million young people not earning or learning – a rise of 248,000 between 2021 to 2024 – so that every young person can progress wherever they live.

To mark the expansion, the Work and Pensions Secretary opened Scotland’s first Youth Guarantee Jobs Fair in Glasgow’s iconic Concert Hall, bringing employers, training providers and support services together to connect young people with jobs, skills and opportunities in the area.

Over 2,400 young people looking for work met leading employers including Scottish Power, HSBC, Barclays, Police Scotland, the Army, Royal Air Force, NHS24, Kier Construction and the Scottish Professional Football League Trust.

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said: “Today marks a major boost for young people with 80 new Youth Hubs and Scotland’s first Youth Guarantee Jobs Fair driving opportunity.

“We are delivering support in every region, connecting young people with employers, and meeting them where they are so they can move into work, as we reform the welfare state into a working state.

“This is about breaking down barriers, opening doors and ensuring every young person can earn or learn, wherever they live.”

The Scottish Professional Football League Trust will partner with DWP to deliver Youth Hubs across Scotland, as the Government continues its drive to deliver support to young people where they are.

This builds on work across England, where Premier League is working with DWP to support the Youth Guarantee and help young people access jobs, training and support.

Nicky Reid, SPFL Trust Chief Executive, said: “We’re extremely proud to have been chosen to deliver these vital Youth Hubs in partnership with the DWP across the country.

“Football clubs and their associated community trusts are places where many young people feel a strong sense of connection, making them a natural fit for this programme.

“These initiatives will play a crucial role in helping participants access the training and support they need to take the next step in their careers or education.”

Youth Hubs will be expanded to over 360 areas across Great Britain over the next three years, from Manchester and Salford to Dundee and Newport.

The 80 new Hubs are launching across Scotland, Wales and England with delivery already well under way and the expansion seeing Youth Hubs open from November 2025.

Today’s announcement is part of the £2.5 billion investment in the Youth Guarantee and changes to the Growth and Skills Levy to prioritise young apprentices, which together create 200,000 jobs and apprenticeship opportunities.

This includes a Youth Jobs Grant worth £3,000 for employers for every young person they hire aged 18-24 who has been on UC for six months, an expanded Jobs Guarantee for 18-to-24-year-olds, and new foundation apprenticeships in key sectors.

These commitments come alongside the government’s expansion of its innovative ‘Pathfinder’ programme to Nottingham and the North East, following early success in Wakefield. Like the Youth Hub model, Pathfinders bring together local councils, mayors and health teams and partners to design employment support that reflects the specific needs, employers and job markets in each community.

The Pathfinder programme forms part of the government’s broader ambition to move away from a one-size-fits-all approach to employment support, providing personalised, practical help to people before they reach crisis point.

These steps ‘show the Government’s commitment to ensuring every young person has the opportunity to earn or learn’.

Mobile Jobcentres hit the road in six new areas to deliver employment support

Jobseekers are to benefit from the roll-out of mobile jobs vans across Great Britain – outside leisure centres, supermarkets and even football stadiums

  • New vans rolling out to six additional areas across England and Wales as part of major employment reforms.
  • Jobcentre on Wheels service puts expert support at heart of the local community – slashing barriers by coming directly to people while they do their weekly shop or see their local team play football.
  • Roll out is part of wider government plans to Get Britain Working and comes after successful pilot saw over 1,600 people supported.

Jobseekers are to benefit from the roll-out of mobile jobs vans across Great Britain – appearing outside leisure centres, supermarkets and even football stadiums.

Following hugely successful pilots in the Scottish Highlands, North and Mid Wales and Greater Manchester, the number of Jobcentres on Wheels will triple, providing enhanced support in six new areas, with a view to explore rolling out the scheme more extensively after testing its impact.

The vans will take jobcentre staff on the road to communities with some of the highest rates of unemployment where support is needed most. Vans will park up outside family hubs, leisure centres, supermarkets, local events and football matches to make taking that first step towards work as easy as possible.

Once on board, people can meet with one of the DWP’s experienced work coaches who will who offer expert support with job searching and training opportunities.

They can also provide information to those with health conditions or disabilities and for accessing childcare costs.

As well as existing customers, the service is open and accessible to all members of the public and forms part of the government’s wider plans to Get Britain Working, kickstart economic growth and give more opportunities for people to get on in their career.

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said: “We want to break down the barriers that stop people from finding good work, and that means meeting people where they are.

“Jobcentres on Wheels are doing exactly that – bringing employment support into the heart of communities.

“That’s why we’re building on the success we’ve already seen, expanding the service so we can unlock opportunities for even more people across the country.”

The areas the vans will now be extended to are Wakefield, North Nottinghamshire, Barrow-in-Furness, Blackpool, Clevedon and Rhondda Cynon Taf/Bridgend.

To mark the roll out, Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden visited the Bolton Mobile Jobcentre which was stationed outside Horwich Leisure Centre.

The Bolton Mobile Jobcentre, which was first launched in January 2025 has already supported nearly 800 customers – many of whom had never set foot into a jobcentre. Bolton has one of the highest inactivity rates in the North West, at 29.2% compared to the national average of 20.8%.

It has parked in a range of spaces including Bolton Wanderers’ football stadium on match days, Horwich Leisure Centre, family hubs and community centres, reaching those who might not otherwise access a traditional Jobcentre.

Data shows that just over half of customers visiting the vans are not in receipt of benefits, demonstrating the service is reaching many economically inactive people who may not engage with traditional jobcentres.

For example, in Bolton, a customer with health conditions walked onto the van looking for work. Within one visit, staff found him job leads, referred him to digital support, and connected him with training. The customer said this support was something he would never have thought to look for at a traditional Jobcentre.

Ben Lawton, CEO of Bolton Wanderers in the Community, said: “Here at BWitC we understand the drivers behind the increase in the number of young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET).

“The relational, holistic, community-based support delivered in trusted settings support those in our community facing these challenges.

“Working alongside Bolton Jobcentre and their Jobcentre Van is key to our Vision of One Bolton Connected in Success.”

The mobile Jobcentres will now operate in nine areas across England, Scotland and Wales, covering a mix of urban, rural, coastal and post-industrial communities. Trebling the Department’s mobile fleet will ensure the service reaches those who may face barriers accessing traditional jobcentres across Great Britain as a whole.

The initiative is part of the government’s commitment to reforming employment services and helping more people overcome barriers to work, including health conditions and caring responsibilities.

It is part of a major programme of reform as a test and learn approach which includes transforming Jobcentres and creating a new national jobs and careers service, backed by £55m as well as launching a new digital offer to deliver a transformative new service that will give anyone access to DWP support wherever they are.

UK Government promises major skills boost from ‘fast-track’ apprenticeship reforms

Young people will be given a quicker route into high-quality jobs on major projects as the Government slashes red tape to fast-track the process  

  • Faster approval process to update apprenticeships and develop short courses to address urgent skills needs in major projects
  • Reforms come ahead of National Apprenticeship Week to help young people move into high-quality jobs faster while turbocharging growth 
  • Bureaucracy tackled to cut apprenticeship approval times from 18 months to as little as three months as government continues drive to help more young people onto apprenticeships   

Young people will be given a quicker route into high-quality jobs on major projects as the Government slashes red tape to fast-track the process.  

As industries evolve, so must the training that prepares people to work in them. Whether it’s new safety standards on building sites or the skills needed to construct and operate the latest offshore wind turbines, apprenticeships need to keep pace.

A new accelerated approach will mean updates to training or development of new short courses can be completed in as little as three months, ensuring the workforce is ready to deliver the major projects that will drive growth.

This forms as part of the Growth and Skills Levy reforms, delivering 50,000 more apprenticeships for young people backed by £725 million funding. These measures will play an integral role towards the Government’s ambition to get two-thirds of young people into higher-level learning or apprenticeships.

The offer will help companies meet their business needs more quickly, while reflecting the Government’s consultation on ensuring companies bidding for major infrastructure contracts contributes to high-quality jobs, skills and apprenticeships. It reinforces the Government’s expectation that investment in workforce development should go hand in hand with delivering major projects and driving growth.

To mark the start of National Apprenticeship Week, Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden visited Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead, to see first-hand how apprenticeships are delivering skilled jobs in advanced manufacturing and engineering. 

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said: “Britain’s future depends on getting more young people into good jobs with real prospects. These reforms will slash bureaucracy so we can train people faster in the industries where they’re needed most.

“At Cammell Laird, I’ve seen how apprenticeships are delivering the skilled workforce our country needs — from shipbuilding to advanced manufacturing. We’re building on that success with our additional £725 million Growth and Skills Levy investment to create 50,000 new apprenticeships. 

 ”We need to give more young people a faster route into secure, well-paid work by ensuring British businesses have the talent they need to grow.” 

The latest reforms come as the government ramps up support for young people to take up apprenticeships, including through a recent major £725 million investment to pivot the system towards the workforce of the future. 

They will make the process more agile and responsive to employers’ needs and allow training to be delivered more quickly where employers need skills most. 

As part of the new Major Investment and Infrastructure Service, this will support the delivery of major infrastructure and private investment projects from Northern Powerhouse Rail to new energetic materials factories for UK defence and ensure local people have pathways into new jobs. 

The system will use occupational experts to meet specific needs and will focus on making quick revisions to existing standards, for example updating construction standards in the light of regulatory changes following Grenfell. 

During the visit, the Secretary of State met apprentices working on one of the largest apprenticeship programmes in the UK maritime industry, and visited the local Engineering College, which trains over 100 apprentices a year in partnership with Cammel Laird.  

Cammell Laird is a major UK shipbuilder employing hundreds of apprentices across Merseyside, working closely with local education providers to train the next generation of engineers, welders and project managers. 

David McGinley, Chief Executive Officer of APCL Group said: “APCL Cammell Laird was delighted to welcome the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Pat McFadden to its facility ahead of National Apprenticeship Week.

“The Secretary of State’s visit provided APCL with the platform to demonstrate the importance of our award-winning apprenticeship programme to the UK’s industrial capability.

“Our Group is currently supporting over 270 young people in their training across the UK.  APCL Cammell Laird and the wider APCL Group’s shipbuilding and ship repair capability is underpinned by our apprenticeship programme which continues to deliver the next generations of shipbuilders and engineers.

“The ongoing success of our apprenticeship programme is vital if we are to ensure that the UK retains its shipbuilding strength. APCL remains deeply committed to this scheme.”

The new accelerated approach will allow government to move faster where demand is highest, delivering priority updates to apprenticeships more quickly,  while maintaining quality standards — supporting sectors critical to growth, productivity and national infrastructure. 

The announcement comes ahead of the 19th annual National Apprenticeship Week, which focuses on Skills for life. 

Recent reforms to the Growth and Skills Levy will deliver more apprenticeships for young people and help match skills training with local job opportunities. 

The reforms will support 50,000 new apprenticeships, helping more young people move quickly into secure, well-paid work while supporting employers to grow.  

Employers and training providers are encouraged to engage with Skills England and the Department for Work and Pensions to help shape accelerated apprenticeships, and to make use of the Growth and Skills Levy to invest in their future workforce. 

Youth Guarantee gets blockbuster backing to drive support for TV and film jobs

Young people are set to benefit from TV and film industry support for the Government’s Youth Guarantee

  • Pinewood Studios, Europe’s leading studio complex and home to James Bond and the Carry On films, is supporting the Government’s Youth Guarantee.
  • Industry leaders including Netflix, Disney and Vue International met Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden at Pinewood Studios to discuss how they can support more young people into creative roles.
  • More than 4,500 young people attended Pinewood Group’s “Futures Festival” event – Britain’s biggest TV and film careers event.

Young people are set to benefit from TV and film industry support for the Government’s Youth Guarantee.

Pat McFadden co-chaired a roundtable with Pinewood Studios at the largest free film and TV careers event in the UK yesterday, attended by industry leaders including Disney, Vue International and Amazon MGM Studios.

Pinewood’s annual Futures Festival showcased the range of careers available in film and television to young people, and employers and industry professionals spoke to attendees about the routes available into the sector.

The Work and Pensions Secretary heard how industry leaders are already increasing opportunities in the sector for young people and called on the industry to back the Government’s Youth Guarantee, which provides a guaranteed job, work experience or training to all 18-to-21-year olds.

Production spending in the UK is booming having reached £5.6 billion in 2024, a 31 percent increase on the previous year, highlighting emerging work and training opportunities for young people. However, there remains a skills gap in the sector. By supporting young people into work, the sector will help close that gap and ensure the UK maintains its position as a world leading hub for film and television production.

Pinewood Group, incorporating Pinewood and Shepperton Studios in the UK, has been pioneering youth training through its ‘Behind the Screen’ programme. Delivered in collaboration with Jobcentre Plus, the scheme supports people currently out of work by offering paid six‑month placements that provide hands-on experience and a first step into the film and TV industry.

As the latest Youth Guarantee Supporter, Pinewood’s helping to realise the Government’s pledge to ensure all young people have the opportunity to earn or learn.

Another supporter of the Youth Guarantee is All Spring Media, who provide skills bootcamps and training programmes to ensure young creatives have the experience and confidence they need to pursue their chosen career.

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said: “With almost a million young people not in education, employment or training, we need to create pathways of opportunity and help them build careers.

“Today’s festival has shown what’s possible when government and industry work together.

“Apprenticeships benefit everyone – young people gain skills and experience, while employers gain fresh talent and new perspectives. The Behind the Screen programme is a great example of this in action, helping young people break into an industry that can otherwise feel out of reach.

“I’m delighted that Pinewood is backing our Youth Guarantee. I’m calling on other employers across the creative industries to follow their lead and open their doors to the next generation of talent.

The Work and Pensions Secretary met with trainees from the ‘Behind the Screen’ programme to hear about the training they are receiving to start their creative career.

Andrew Smith, Corporate Affairs Director of Pinewood Group said: “Pinewood Group is committed to opening doors and creating accessible pathways into the industry.

“Our well-established ‘Behind the Screen’ programme offers paid, hands‑on placements for those out of work, while our annual Pinewood Futures Festival continues to inspire and engage the next generation of industry talent.”

Sara Whybrew, Director of Skills and Workforce Development, British Film Institute, said: “For the next generation to thrive, we must level the playing field across the UK especially for those who may lack the support needed to access work on their doorstep.

“Our UK-wide skills programmes for young people – from sector specific careers advice in schools, our UK-wide Film Academy programme, through to paid work placements on studio productions and onto a range of career progression pathways – are designed to address inequalities and prioritise opening up opportunities to those currently underrepresented in the screen sector’s workforce.

“We look forward to working with DWP and our industry colleagues to enable the screen sector to play a role in supporting the ambitions of the Youth Guarantee.”

Mia, trainee from the ‘Behind the Screen’ programme: “Pinewoods Behind the Screen Programme was a fantastic opportunity to become part of a supportive community and expand my network within film.

“The programme opened doors and formed a great stepping stone into my current role at Imaginarium Studios.”

Pinewood Studios join other high-profile Youth Guarantee partners including the Premier League, EFL in the Community, Royal Shakespeare Company and Channel 4.

This is the latest step in the Government’s work to boost opportunity to support young people into employment or training.

An £820 million investment in the Youth Guarantee to support almost one million young people will create 350,000 new training and workplaces, 55,000 guaranteed jobs for the long-term unemployed, over 360 youth hubs across Great Britain.

We have also launched a major investigation spearheaded by Alan Milburn which will investigate the barriers preventing young people from accessing work.

This builds on the work of DCMS’ creative careers campaign, which aims to improve access to young people from underrepresented communities outside London in these high growth sectors.

The Government is also seeking to grow the sectors through our Creative Industries Sector Plan, which is providing £380 million of targeted investment to ensure they can continue to grow.

‘Broken’ careers service funding model to be reformed, UK Government confirms

‘just one meeting between jobseekers and advisors a year is like trying to fill an ocean with a teaspoon‘

Funding for careers advisors will be reformed, the UK Government has confirmed, following criticism of the current model in a report by a cross-party Committee of MPs.

Westminster’s Work and Pensions Committee’s Creating a new jobs and careers service report said that a combination of poor funding and badly designed targets had led to the service spending too little time with people and focusing too much on low impact interventions.

In its response to the report, the Government said that bringing “careers advice in England in house will end the current incentivised model and enable the development of a more integrated service”.

Careers advice in the UK is devolved, so these changes will not automatically apply in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The Government also agreed with the Committee on the importance of recognising the distinct roles of work coaches and careers advisors. It added that it was looking into a “dedicated training pathway” for advisors in addition to the planned Coaching Academy for work coaches.  

MPs on the Committee made their recommendation following fears that the planned Jobcentre-careers service merger would eliminate the distinction between Work Coaches and Careers Advisors, which they thought would reduce the effectiveness of the service.

The DWP also committed to providing certainty to staff at the National Careers Service by publishing a transition plan in the next 6 months. Since publication of the report, the Government has moved to bring the contracts for careers advisors in-house, sparking concerns among advisors over what will happen when their contracts run out on 30 September 2026. 

Committee Chair, Debbie Abrahams said, “We welcome the Government’s recognition that the careers service funding model was broken and that it must be reformed.

“Budgeting, as it does now, for just one meeting between jobseekers and advisors a year is like trying to fill an ocean with a teaspoon.

“The job is about finding out enough about people, their ambitions and interests, their skills, the barriers they face, what drives them, their needs, in order for them to be effective. A new, less exclusive, model would help meet the goals of Government and get people into work that suits them; benefitting jobseekers, employers and ultimately, the economy.

“The recent brief shake-up will help. Giving the DWP sole responsibility over the adult skills brief, instead of sharing with the Department for Education, should help to reduce the incoherent patchwork of services that are available. And bringing the careers service in house, rather than outsourcing, will in time provide clearer lines of accountability, and greater efficiency.

“But we have to recognise that pressing on with little detail on what will happen after current contracts end in September 2026 has caused significant worry among careers advisors. Certainty on this could be the solid foundation that ensures the new system gets off to the best start.

“So, the Government really needs to crack on with fleshing out the detail of the service from 2027 to boost the confidence of advisors and in the new system.”

Disabled people to shape review into Personal Independence Payment

Disabled people will be at the heart of the first ever full review of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) following the appointment of two co-chairs, and the launch of a recruitment process for its wider steering group, says DWP

  • First ever full review of Personal Independence Payment to be led by disabled people with appointment of two co-chairs.
  • Recruitment for steering group launched to lead co-production and provide strategic direction.
  • UK Government to partner with disabled people to make sure their views and voices are at the heart of policy making.

Disabled people will be at the heart of the first ever full review of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) following the appointment of two co-chairs, and the launch of a recruitment process for its wider steering group. 

Dr Clenton Farquharson CBE and Sharon Brennan have been appointed as co-chairs of the Timms Review, alongside the Minister for Social Security and Disability, Sir Stephen Timms. 

Dr Clenton Farquharson CBE brings more than 25 years’ experience as a national advocate for disability rights, co-production and social justice. He is Associate Director at Think Local Act Personal, a Trustee of Disability Rights UK, and National Development Team for Inclusion. 

Sharon Brennan brings expertise from previous roles including as Director of Policy and External Affairs at National Voices, a coalition of health and care charities, and advising the Department for Transport on accessibility as a member of the Disabled Person’s Transport Advisory Committee. 

Since PIP was introduced over a decade ago, there have been shifting trends in long-term health conditions and disability, plus changes in wider society and the workplace. 

Close to 10 million working age people are disabled, and this number has grown by nearly 3 million since 2013/14. There have been greater increases in the prevalence of disability among young people and a rise in mental health conditions. 

However, despite these shifts, PIP has never been fully reviewed until now. 

The aim of this review is to make sure PIP fairly reflects the reality of the impact of people’s conditions in the modern world, as well as considering the needs of disabled people more widely. It will look at the role of PIP in enabling disabled people to live independently and fully participate in society, as well as the role of the assessment in unlocking wider support.   

Minister for Social Security and Disability, Stephen Timms said:  “We’re ensuring disabled people and those with long-term health conditions can access the same opportunities, choices, and chances as everyone else.   

“That’s why we’re putting them at the heart of the first ever full review of PIP – making sure it is fair and fit for the future. 

“I’m delighted to welcome Dr Clenton Farquharson CBE and Sharon Brennan as the Review’s co-chairs and encourage people with lived experience to apply to be part of this important work.”

The Review will be co-produced with disabled people, the organisations that represent them and other experts, and will explore how PIP helps people manage and adapt to their long-term condition or disability in ways that expand their functioning and improve their independence. 

An Expression of Interest has launched today to recruit 12 members for the Review’s steering group – the majority of whom will be disabled people or representatives of Disabled People’s Organisations – and will lead the co-production and strategic direction of the Review. 

The steering group will not work alone: it will oversee a programme of participation that brings together the full range of views and voices. It will also draw on a broad range of evidence, sources and co-production methodologies to develop its recommendations. 

Dr Clenton Farquharson CBE said: “We have an opportunity to ensure PIP reflects the everyday realities of disabled people’s lives. 

“I’m committed to working with my fellow co-chairs and the steering group so this benefit becomes something that empowers rather than frustrates: a system built on dignity, fairness, and trust.”

Sharon Brennan said: “As a disabled person myself, I know from experience that disabled people are often disregarded on issues that affect them, so I am delighted that with this Review we will see them leading the conversation.   

“The Government’s commitment to co-production of the Review will put the expertise and experience of disabled people at the heart of the important change we’re determined deliver.”

The Review’s Terms of Reference have also been updated following changes made to the Universal Credit Act, and to provide further clarity on the Review’s scope. 

The Review is expected to report to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions by Autumn 2026, with an interim update expected ahead of that. 

Today’s announcement follows extensive engagement that the Minister for Social Security and Disability undertook over the summer, meeting with representatives from over 50 organisations across the disability, welfare and co-production sectors, to discuss how co-production should be approached. 

Alongside today’s announcement, as previously outlined in the Pathways to Work Green Paper, we will also continue to consider ways of using evidence from eligibility for other services to reduce the need for some people with very severe health conditions and disabilities to undergo a full PIP functional assessment. 

We have also begun to explore how the process of transferring supporting medical evidence from the NHS to the department could be digitalised, where people have already consented to the NHS sharing that with us. This could reduce the administrative burden on both PIP applicants and the NHS as well as speed up the overall claim journey.  

  • The Expression of Interest is available on GOV.UK and will run for four weeks.  Alternative formats (including BSL, Easy Read and audio) are available on request via GOV.UK. 
  • The Timms Review will report to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions by autumn 2026.

Thousands of carers’ benefits transferred

Scotland’s carers getting more financial support through Social Security Scotland

Around 118,000 unpaid carers who were receiving Carer’s Allowance have had their benefit awards safely and securely transferred to Social Security Scotland’s Carer Support Payment. 

Carer Support Payment began rolling out across Scotland in November 2023 to replace Carer’s Allowance delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). 

Since the formation of Social Security Scotland in 2018, the Scottish Government has delivered more financial support for unpaid carers in Scotland under a very different social security system, rooted in dignity, fairness and respect. 

Carer’s Allowance Supplement provides up to £587 a year while Young Carer Grant offers over £390 each year to carers aged 16-18 years. These payments are only available in Scotland.  

Carer Support Payment has also been extended to enable more carers in full time education to access the payment.  

Further improvements to carer benefits in Scotland are planned within the next six months. This includes extension of Young Carer Grant to 19-year-olds and a new payment worth up to £520 a year for carers who are caring for more than one person.  

Extending eligibility for financial support following the death of the cared-for person from 8 to 12 weeks is also amongst the plans. 

Social Justice Secretary, Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “We are supporting over 126,000 unpaid carers in Scotland through devolved carer benefits, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to improving social security, under a kinder system that treats people with dignity and respect.  

“It was always our intention that once carers’ benefits had successfully transferred to Carer Support Payment, we’d deliver even more changes to help make a difference to carers’ lives. 

“Unpaid carers make a huge contribution within our communities and I’m proud to be able to improve the financial support available to them in Scotland.” 

Football clubs partner with UK Government to help young people into work in England

Thousands more young people are to receive life-changing support into work or training – with football clubs across England signing up to help the Westminster Government in their mission to ensure every 18-to-21-year-old has the chance to earn or learn

  • Every Premier League Football Club Charity now in talks with DWP to support the Youth Guarantee – helping more young people get into work or training.
  • Youth Hub scheme to double to over 200 locations, giving more young people access to employment, skills and wellbeing support at football clubs, libraries and community centres closer to home.
  • EFL in the Community, the charitable arm of the English Football League (EFL), and Rugby Football League confirm new partnerships, harnessing the power of sport to champion young people and break down barriers to opportunities as part of the Plan for Change.

Thousands more young people are to receive life-changing support into work or training – with football clubs across England signing up to help the Westminster Government in their mission to ensure every 18-to-21-year-old has the chance to earn or learn.

The Government’s highly successful Youth Hubs – which are hosted by sports clubs and other community venues in England, Scotland and Wales – will almost double in number thanks to £25 million investment announced today.

The funding was announced as it was revealed that every Premier League club charity in England is now discussing with Government how they can help get young people earning or learning, while the EFL in the Community and Rugby Football League have also been confirmed as new partners, supporting the same aim.

This means even more young people across the country are being helped by their local teams, as well as the Government’s other Youth Guarantee partners.

To mark the expansion of the programme and our partnership with the Premier League, Secretary of State Pat McFadden will visit Selhurst Park, home to the Palace for Life Youth Hub and Crystal Palace football club, where he will meet staff and young people benefitting from the service to see first-hand the impact it is having in the community.

Youth Hubs offer personalised, wraparound employment, skills and wellbeing support to young people in the areas of highest need. Thanks to this latest investment they will almost double to over 200 places across England, Scotland and Wales in the next three years.

The Hubs bring support, such as CV and wellbeing advice, directly to young people – taking place in settings right at the heart of the community like sports clubs, libraries and community centres.

With nearly one million young people not in education, employment or training, this expansion is helping to inspire a renewed sense of purpose and ambition in young people as well as breaking down barriers to opportunity as part of the Plan for Change.

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Pat McFadden, said: “The number of young people not in education, employment or training is unacceptably high, and this government will not stand by while so many are robbed of their potential and our country of its future.

“Through our £25 million expansion of Youth Hubs and partnerships with the Premier League and other key organisations, we’re creating real opportunities for the next generation, ensuring support is targeted to those most in need.

“This investment will support our mission to give every young person the skills and confidence they need to thrive, as we break down barriers to opportunity under our Plan for Change.”

Run in partnership with Jobcentres, Youth Hubs bring Youth Work Coaches together with local partners including charities, councils and employers to provide everything from CV advice to skills training to careers guidance and wellbeing support.

In future, they will also provide access to mental health services, housing and homelessness support.

Erin is one of many young people who have flourished thanks to the government-funded support offered by her local Youth Hub.

Unemployed for two years and struggling with motivation, she visited the Palace for Life Youth Hub. After joining the hospitality programme where she gained valuable experience and confidence, she completed a work placement and was offered a permanent job, marking the start of an exciting new chapter.

The Secretary of State will host a roundtable at Selhurst Park with existing Youth Guarantee partners including the Premier League and Channel 4, as well as new partners such as the EFL in the Community and Rugby Football League.

Clare Sumner, chief policy and social impact officer at the Premier League said: “The Premier League is proud to support the expansion of Youth Hubs so young people, whatever their background, can access the opportunities, support and inspiration they deserve.

“Between 2022 and 2025, the Premier League has invested £1.6 billion into wider football and communities, helping support people of all ages who need it most, and create more chances for young people to learn and grow.

“By working in partnership with Government on the Youth Guarantee, we can build on this foundation and ensure Youth Hubs offer even more opportunities to help young people thrive.

“Together we are showing how football is more than a game, reaching those who need support most, helping them fulfil their potential and strengthening communities nationwide.”

The announcement is the latest example of the UK Government’s work to tackle the rising number of young people not in education, employment, or training.

In August, an additional £45 million was invested to extend funding for eight Youth Guarantee trailblazers across England whilst an extra £100 million will help to train up 40,000 young construction workers as the Government continues to break down barriers to opportunity under the Plan for Change.

It marks another step in the plan to Get Britain Working and raise living standards by modernising Jobcentres, boosting the National Living Wage, and creating more secure jobs through the Employment Rights Bill.

Thousands of sick and disabled people in England to get ‘life-changing support into work’

Thousands of sick or disabled people will be helped into ‘good, secure jobs’ following a major expansion of tailored employment support announced by the Department for Work and Pensions today
  • Hundreds of thousands of sick and disabled people will now get the personalised support they need to find good, secure jobs thanks to a major expansion of specialist employment support.
  • New funding will be delivered to fifteen areas across England as part of the Connect to Work programme which helps to break down barriers to opportunity.
  • Comes as part of £3.8 billion employment support package for sick or disabled people, unlocking work and boosting living standards as part of the Plan for Change.

A new £338 million investment into the Connect to Work programme will deliver localised, tailored support to over 85,000 people who are sick, disabled or face complex barriers to work in 15 areas across England.

The scheme provides intensive, personalised help including individual coaching from employment specialists, job matching services, and ongoing support for both participants and employers to ensure sustainable employment outcomes.

In all around 300,000 people across all of England and Wales are set to benefit over the next five years. To access support, sick and disabled people and those facing complex barriers to work can self-refer or they can be referred through various routes including healthcare professionals, local authorities, and voluntary sector partners.

With 2.8 million people out of work due to ill-health – one of the highest rates in the G7 – it’s part of the Government’s plan to get Britain working again and deliver an 80% employment rate by overhauling jobcentres, tackling economic inactivity through local plans, and delivering a Youth Guarantee so every young person is either earning or learning.

Among those out of work, over one in four cite sickness as a barrier – more than double the 2012 figure of one in ten – highlighting the urgent need for tailored employment support that removes barriers faced by disabled people and those with health conditions.

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said: “For too long, millions of people have been denied the support they need to get back to health and back to work. It’s bad for their living standards, it’s bad for their families, and it’s bad for the economy.

“That’s why we’re taking decisive action by investing millions of pounds so sick or disabled people can overcome the barriers they face and move out of poverty and into good, secure jobs as part of our Plan for Change.”

The expansion is backed by a £338 million cash injection with the largest interventions announced today including:

  • Up to £71.9 million for Central London Forward – supporting 16,800 people across the City of London.
  • Up to £47.1 million for the Local London Sub-Regional partnership – providing tailored support to 12,350 people across nine boroughs in east and outer London.
  • Up to £35.3 million for South Yorkshire – helping 9,950 participants across Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley, and Doncaster into work.
  • Up to £30.7 million for Greater Essex – supporting 7,800 people across Southend-on-Sea, Thurrock, and Essex into good jobs.

South Yourkshire’s mayor Oliver Coppard said: “I want South Yorkshire to be a place where we all thrive. Where poor health doesn’t hold us back. And work plays a huge part. It’s not just about wages – it’s about dignity, pride, and the security that comes from knowing you can support yourself and your family.

“Right now, more than 140,000 people across South Yorkshire aren’t in work. But many of those people desperately want to have a job, want to provide for their families, and contribute to the future of our communities. Which is why I’m proud that South Yorkshire is one of the areas across England and Wales delivering Connect to Work.

“It’s a programme designed to help those with disabilities, long-term health conditions, or from disadvantaged backgrounds, into good, secure jobs. And I’m even prouder that Connect to Work is part of the national Pathways to Work project, which we pioneered right here in South Yorkshire.

“South Yorkshire’s at the forefront of tackling these challenges nationally, and we’re increasingly a model for other places across the country.”

Connect to Work is already transforming lives across England, with early delivery areas demonstrating the real difference targeted employment support can make.

In West London, where £42.8 million was allocated earlier this year to support 10,800 people, participants are already finding work with the help of specialist coaches who understand the complex barriers they face.

Awais Ashraf, a Connect to Work participant in West London, said: “My health suffered with the loss of a family member, which led me into a period of depression and anxiety, and meant I lost my employment just under two years ago.“

My JCP Workcoach referred me to Connect to Work. I received a blend of support – from advice and tools in self-managing my health condition to identifying what skills I already had and could be transferred to another role.

“I am now working as a Teaching Assistant & knowing I have my Employment Specialist supporting me while I am in work is also a great reassurance.”

Cllr Tom Hunt, Chair of the LGA’s Inclusive Growth Committee, said: “The Government’s decision to provide grant funding to councils and mayoral areas to deliver Connect to Work is a positive step.

“Evidence shows that councils are best placed to understand and respond to the needs of their communities, and the LGA has long called for a more local approach to helping people back into employment.”

Connect to Work will enable councils and mayors, working with partners, to design tailored support for people who are currently out of the labour market due to health conditions, disability, or complex needs.

This not only facilitates supporting people move closer to work but also helps reduce wider social and financial pressures on communities and services, which helps reduce long-term welfare dependency, and creates stronger and more productive, resilient local economies.

Today’s announcement comes less than 24 hours after the Universal Credit Bill received Royal Assent.

Coming into force in April next year, it will make the welfare system fairer by rebalancing Universal Credit to reduce the incentives that discourage work and fuel inactivity. It will also increase the rate of the standard allowance of Universal Credit, for around four million households, putting an extra £725 in their pockets by 2030.

The new funding also builds on WorkWell, a joint programme by DWP and DHSC, which went live in October last year, backed by £64m funding.

It is transforming how people with health conditions are supported back into work through better integration between health services and employment support and will reach 56,000 people across the 15 pilot sites by Spring 2026.

This approach prevents people from falling out of work, transforming employment services, and providing specialist support to help the most disadvantaged back into good jobs, the UK Labour government says.

 

Millions to receive benefit payments ahead of August bank holiday

  • Change to benefits payment date for millions of people will help them with their financial planning and providing peace of mind for those on low incomes.
  • It comes ahead of the new school year, which will allow families and carers to plan their spending with confidence, knowing their support is already in place.
  • This proactive measure demonstrates the Government’s commitment through its Plan for Change to raising living standards, breaking down barriers to opportunity and ensuring growth is felt by everyone, everywhere.
  • Applies across the entire United Kingdom (Scotland follows the same principle despite different bank holiday arrangements).

Millions of people will receive their essential financial support before the August bank holiday weekend, as the Government has confirmed that benefit payments will be brought forward to Friday 22 August.

The early payment arrangement will apply to all major benefits including Universal Credit, Child Benefit, State Pension, Personal Independence Payment, Attendance Allowance, Carer’s Allowance, and Disability Living Allowance, ensuring that payments originally scheduled for the weekend of 23-25 August reach recipients on time.

This proactive measure will provide financial certainty for families as they prepare for the new school year, allowing parents and carers to plan their spending with confidence knowing their support is already in place during what can be an expensive time for households.

Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms said: “We know how much families rely on these payments, and by bringing them forward ahead of the bank holiday we’re ensuring no one has to worry about whether their support will be there when they need it most.

“This is especially important ahead of the new school year – no family should have to choose between buying school supplies and putting food on the table.

“This is what our Plan for Change is all about – putting working families and the most vulnerable first and ensuring every family has the security they need to plan for the future.”

The early payment policy ensures recipients receive their funds before banks and government offices close for the holiday weekend, maintaining the continuity of support that millions depend upon.