GovWire

In January 2018, the government announced that 90 million from dormant bank and building society accounts will fund projects to support young people furthest from the labour market into employment. The programme will be designed jointly by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, the Department for Education, the Department for Work and Pensions and the Big Lottery Fund, with input from young people.

This statement signals the beginning of an engagement phase, which will inform the design of the programme. Government will then issue policy directions to the Big Lottery Fund, setting out what should be taken into account in determining who receives the money and the purposes for which the money can be distributed. This is in line with the Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Act 2008. This was announced by the Prime Minister on 19th March 2018.

The statement sets out the following:

• The problem the programme aims to solve it will address disparities in youth unemployment highlighted by the governments Ethnicity Facts and Figures website. The programme will also consider the complex barriers facing young people far from the labour market, including those with poor mental health, poor qualifications and special educational needs and disabilities.
• What approaches work to solve this problem evidence shows that the best programmes are individual, holistic, and joined-up in their approach, and focused on local solutions.
• The core principles that will underpin the programme young people will be at the heart of the programme design; it will encourage local solutions; and it will take a strategic and evidence based approach.
• How the programme will be developed the engagement phase includes targeted workshops with young people and events bringing together local leaders of business, youth organisations, health and education together with young people.

This statement has been published jointly by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and the Big Lottery Fund.

To take part in the engagement phase of the programme, please visit Big Lottery Funds website.