Youth Unemployment in East Lancashire is a problem for young people, their families and their community. It is a problem that affects us all.  <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

In the last 12 months, there has been:

§  A 31% increase in young people claiming Jobseekers Allowance in Burnley

§  A 20% increase in young people claiming Jobseekers Allowance in Pendle

§  A 23% increase in young people claiming Jobseekers Allowance in Rossendale & Darwen

A crisis that needs fixing to ensure young people have a future that works for them. The TUC are campaigning for this crisis to be tackled so that we all can benefit from young people being in work or education.

We want the Government to put in place policies that will help fix this problem. To help them, we want everyone - individuals, local businesses, councils and your MP to sign our Youth Charter which calls for:

• Jobs Guarantee - A guaranteed job or training to every young person out of work for 6 months or more
• Action on Apprenticeships - Public Bodies should recruit to commiting a set number of apprentices and it should be a requirement of all public sector contracts.
• Quality Work Experience - Young people should have access to work experience with a guarantee of good quality training and a job interview at the end.
• Welfare Reform - A short term change to allow young people to access training full time whilst still able to access benefits. Long term, a Youth Credit to allow young people to improve their job prospects.
• Practical Support - Extra measures to help young people get into work and stay there, including support with travel costs to and from work.Sign our petition to say that you support the TUC's Youth Charter. Sign our petition to say that you want A Future That Works for Young People in East Lancashire.