Government launches £40m jobs and training campaign

The government has launched a £40m campaign to help young people survive the recession. Backing Young Britain is designed to get more young people into employment, work experience and training.

It includes measures such as a network of mentors to work with young job seekers and job clubs for unemployed 18- to 24-year-olds.

There will also be 10,000 work experience places for 18- to 21-year-olds who haven’t been to university, and the government will work with businesses to increase the number of internships on offer for graduates and non-graduates.

Children’s Secretary Ed Balls called on businesses and charities to offer young people volunteering places, work experience and apprenticeships.

He said: “We must not repeat the mistakes that were made in recessions of the past and abandon a whole generation of young people.”

Meanwhile, Work and Pensions Secretary Yvette Cooper has announced the first 47,000 new jobs to be created using the £1bn Future Jobs Fund, which was launched earlier this year.

The jobs, which will be offered to unemployed 18- to 24-year-olds, will include sports coaches, tourist ambassadors, education assistants and roles in the green and social care sectors.

But Carey Oppenheim, co-director of think tank the Institute for Public Policy Research warned that the Future Jobs Fund is just a short term solution.

She said: “These jobs are designed to be temporary and will last for only six months. That means that many young people will need help with looking for more permanent work or high-quality training once the six months is up.”