One of the greatest responsibilities we have – both as a community and as a country – is to make sure every young person has the chance to get on in life. When I speak with young people across West Cumbria, I hear the same message time and again: they want opportunities, support, and a fair shot at building their future here in West Cumbria. For too long, too many have been held back by a lack of chances that should be every young person’s right.
That is why the action our Labour Government took last week is so important. As part of the Youth Guarantee, the Government has committed £820 million to expanding support for 16–24-year-olds who are not in education, employment or training. This investment will create 350,000 new work and training opportunities, expand Youth Hubs to every local area – including one in Workington following the launch of the Whitehaven Hub in the autumn – and introduce a new Youth Guarantee Gateway, which will provide almost 900,000 young people on Universal Credit with tailored, intensive support to move into work or learning. It also delivers a new Jobs Guarantee: six months of paid employment for young people aged 18–21 who have been unemployed for 18 months or more.
These national changes matter here. In West Cumbria, there are currently 405 young people aged 16–24 claiming unemployment-related benefits. That is not a statistic; it represents hundreds of young lives full of talent, potential, and possibility. We owe it to them – and to our local economy – to make sure they are not left behind.
Alongside this, the Government has launched the National Youth Strategy, the first plan of its kind in 15 years. It is the result of conversations with over 14,000 young people and sets out a long-term commitment to rebuild youth services across the country. The Strategy will deliver up to 250 new or refurbished youth centres, create a network of 50 Young Futures Hubs, recruit and train youth workers, and ensure all schools have access to Mental Health Support Teams by 2029. It also aims to give 500,000 more young people access to a trusted adult outside their home – recognising how important relationships and belonging are to a young person’s sense of direction and wellbeing.
For West Cumbria, this is a welcome turning point. After years of youth services being hollowed out, we are now rebuilding. Young people here deserve safe places to go, opportunities to develop skills, support with their mental health, and clear pathways into work. This is about restoring pride in our communities and confidence in our future.
Our young people are full of ambition. With these new commitments, they finally have a government – and an MP – determined to match it.
Josh MacAlister MP 