Today’s (28 May 2026) interim report from the Department for Work and Pensions on youth employment, led by Alan Milburn, shines a vital spotlight on an issue that has affected the young people supported by St Giles for decades.
As the report highlights, the problem is grounded in social disadvantage. Even during periods of economic growth, too many young people supported by St Giles are facing poverty, exclusion, and involvement in the justice system and continue to be locked out of employment and training opportunities. These barriers can have lifelong consequences, making early support and meaningful intervention more important than ever.
Fragmentation and lack of strategic oversight have a direct impact on young people. The problem lies in the system and not with young people who are being failed by it. The report states:
Responsibility is dispersed across many organisations. But there is no shared accountability and no clear governing philosophy. Confusion reigns between what happens nationally and what is owned locally. Data is not shared. No amount of reform to individual policy areas or institutions alone will fix this. The architecture itself is the problem.
We were pleased to contribute to the review and share the experiences of the young people we support. We now look forward to the final policy recommendations later this year and hope they will drive the long-term change needed to create fairer opportunities for young people across the country.