You cannot register for this webinar

We are delighted to have you join us at the ‘Breaking Barriers to Work’ Open Letter Info Session. Following on from our work with businesses since late 2023 on breaking barriers to work for young people in supported housing, we have put together an open letter to the Chancellor and the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. Supported by Movement to Work, this letter emphasises businesses’ support for YMCA’s recommendations in the ‘Breaking Barriers to Work report (August 2023) and casts light upon the substantial barriers that young people face in their pursuit of work. Analysis by Stonehaven in ‘Breaking Barriers to Work: Return on Investment Analysis’ (April 2024) of the recommendations we made the previous year showed that investment in these areas could save the Government up to £18 per £1 spent whilst helping young people into employment and independent living. From the costs of transport to work-appropriate clothing, there are many hurdles to overcome by young people in supported accommodation as they transition into work. For many already struggling to meet their essential needs, tackling these challenges seems like an impossible task; this negatively impacts their mental health as they feel trapped in unemployment. This letter reflects a collective social mission to support young people into employment and to tackle disadvantage, ensuring that young people who are furthest away from work receive the help they need. One of the first steps on this journey is to have a benefits system that provides young people with the financial means to meet their essential needs. We hope that this webinar will be informative and inspire you to play your part in ending youth unemployment and setting young people on a path to independence – alongside increasing diversity in the workplace and encouraging social mobility, inclusion and equal opportunity to kickstart economic growth.