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The Youth Obligation: does it work?

Abigail Gill, Policy and Research Manager

The government’s flagship youth unemployment programme, the Youth Obligation, aims to provide unemployed 18- to 21-year-olds with intensive support to find a job. There’s also the promise of a traineeship or work placement if they’re still not in work after six months. Abigail Gill, Centrepoint’s Policy and Research Manager, gave evidence to the Work and Pensions Select Committee about how the Youth Obligation programme is working in practice.

Why is the welfare system trapping young people in employment?

Jonathan Buzzeo, Research Fellow at the Institute for Employment Studies

For many young people claiming benefits, Universal Credit can be both a blessing and a curse. For those like Daniel, getting into non-standard employment meant his UC left him in detrimental financial difficulty. Guest author, Jonathan Buzzeo, describes how the 'gig economy' can prevent young people from leaving homelessness behind, instead trapping them in an endless cycle of debt.