Issue - meetings

To note the formal business case which has been submitted into the Combined Authority’s Single Assurance Framework process to enable the development and delivery of the ‘Youth Guarantee Trailblazer’ opportunity.

RESOLVED

A.    To note the formal business case which has been submitted into the Combined Authority’s Single Assurance Framework process to enable the development and delivery of the ‘Youth Guarantee Trailblazer’ opportunity area granted to Cambridgeshire and Peterborough as part of the Government’s ‘Get Britian Working’ strategy.

B.    To note the proposal that has been submitted by the Authority to the DfE/DWP to secure funding.

The Committee received an update on the Government's Trailblazer initiative, which aimed to support 18 to 21-year-olds who were not in education, employment, or training (NEET). Cambridgeshire and Peterborough were identified as one of eight regions nationally to participate in this programme, which would start in April 2025.

During discussion the following points were noted:

a)    The Committee noted that collaboration with Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council, the statutory bodies responsible for tracking and monitoring NEETs aged 16 to 18, was essential. Presently, there was no single body responsible for tracking 18 to 21-year-olds, and the Committee was informed that the Government had indicated that the Combined Authority might take on this role in the long term. Beyond the Trailblazer funding, there was an assurance that the government's spending review would include a continued commitment to the Youth Guarantee.

b)    The Committee recognised that extensive collaboration with constituent authorities, partners, stakeholders, and employers would be necessary to ensure the success of the programme. It was also noted that an officer would be recruited to support the programme, similar to the Connect to Work initiative.

c)    The challenge of identifying young people who were NEET, particularly those who might be unknown to existing support services, was discussed by the Committee. Close collaboration with schools, further education institutions, independent training providers, and third-sector organisations was highlighted as a crucial aspect of the strategy.

d)    The newly established Youth Forum was expected to play a key role in ensuring young people’s voices were considered in the programme’s development. One of its initial tasks would be to assist with a marketing and awareness campaign to ensure young people knew about available support outside of traditional settings such as Jobcentres.

e)    Concerns were raised about the intersection between unemployment and health issues, particularly mental health conditions. The Committee acknowledged that many young people who were economically inactive cited long-term health conditions as a barrier to employment. It was noted that engagement with primary and secondary healthcare services would be necessary, with a social prescribing approach being considered to help young people view employment as part of their long-term well-being strategy.

f)     It was also recognised that this age group, particularly those transitioning out of paediatric care, often faced challenges in accessing adult healthcare services. The need to liaise with the Integrated Care Board (ICB) to improve healthcare transition pathways was highlighted.

g)    The Committee reflected on existing work related to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and pathways to adulthood, noting that there were opportunities to integrate learnings from these areas into the Trailblazer initiative.

h)    The importance of the Trailblazer programme and its potential to make a significant impact was acknowledged by Members who emphasised the need for collaboration across different sectors to ensure a holistic approach to supporting young people into employment.

i)      It was agreed that further discussions would take place at the Investment Committee, and updates would be provided to this Committee as the programme progressed

RESOLVED

A.    To  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12