Consult young people to get them ‘In Work and Better Off’, says BYC

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Wednesday, 31, Oct 2007 12:00

The British Youth Council (BYC) will today publish its response to the Department of Work and Pensions In Work, Better Off consultation.

BYC has told the DWP if it wishes to find the most effective ways of getting young people into work it should consult young people directly.

One Spokesperson, George Robinson, 18, said, “It is not worth engineering a new strategy for encouraging young people into the work place if the primary beneficiaries have not been consulted.

“As it stands we believe the DWP plans could be considerably improved by a small amount of interaction with young people.”

BYC supports the attempts of the DWP to tackle discrimination against ethnic minorities in the workplace and also sees discrimination against young people as an ongoing issue which needs to be addressed.

BYC has recommended that the government introduce an equal National Minimum Wage for everyone aged 16 and over as a means of tackling poverty amongst young people in work.

BYC believes this will display to young people that they have equal worth within society and will help to tackle negative stereotyping.

Ends.

Notes to Editors:

For further information please contact:

Helen Deakin

British Youth Council

0207 7022 1974

press@byc.org.uk

www.byc.org.uk

1. The DWP’s In Work, Better Off consultation is available from its website: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/welfarereform/in-work-better-off/in-work-better-off.pdf

2. BYC is the national youth council and voice for young people under 26 living in the UK. We represent and involve a unique coalition of young people through their involvement as individuals or through national, regional or local youth organisations.

3. BYC’s coalition includes over 170 national youth organisations such as Girlguiding UK, campaigning organisations such as the National Union of Students (NUS) and youth wings of trade unions, political parties, faith and arts organisations. Also within our membership and network are 400 local youth councils and organisations representing specific groups such as lesbian, gay and bisexual and black and minority ethnic young people.

4. BYC works to ensure that young people are involved at every level of decision-making to allow them to be represented and to make their voices heard.

5. We aim to do four things: Provide a voice for young people; Promote equality for young people; Help young people be more involved in decisions that affect their lives; Advance young people’s participation in society and civil life.