For too long, young people in Lewisham have paid the price of Conservative failure. On their watch, the number of young people not in education, employment or training rose by nearly a quarter of a million nationwide, locking too many local young people out of opportunity and leaving talent to go to waste. A generation was told to wait, cope, or get by while the system failed to act.
Labour is changing that, starting here in Lewisham. With 820 million pounds of new investment, the expanded Youth Guarantee will ensure every young person can earn or learn, no matter their background. This means 350,000 new training and workplace opportunities in sectors that matter to the local economy, from construction and hospitality to health and social care. It also means a Youth Hub in every local area so young people in Lewisham can access careers advice, training, mental health support and help into work all under one roof.
Through the new Youth Guarantee Gateway, thousands of young people on Universal Credit will receive tailored, intensive support to find the right job, training or learning opportunity for them. For those who have been locked out for the longest, the Jobs Guarantee will provide six months of paid employment, offering real work, real wages and a clear route forward.
Councillor Edison Huynh said, “Young people in Lewisham are ambitious, talented and full of potential, but for too long too many have been held back by a system that did not work for them. This investment is about giving every young person the support, opportunities and confidence they need to succeed and about building a fairer future for our borough.”
This is a new social contract with young people in Lewisham, built on early support, clear pathways and the expectation that opportunity is taken up. Labour believes in Lewisham’s young people and is backing that belief with real investment, practical action and long term ambition.
