We want a future that works...the Story of how a Summit was born.

Earlier this year, the TUC formed a campaign group with a group of young people from the Black Country - three of whom, Ashley, Fiona and Dwayne you can see in the video above - who were determined to take action on the youth unemployment crisis that had hit them, their friends and their community. 

THE PROBLEM

Over 1 in 10 young people in the Black Country are unemployed.

The cause is clear - the public sector is the biggest employer in the Black Country and since 2010 it has had to make millions of pounds of cuts as part of the Government's austerity agenda. Young people have particularly suffered as they have less experience than older workers and the Connexions service that provided job advice for young people has been drastically cut back.  Meanwhile many are put off studying to get new skills as the Government has put University fees up to £9000 a year and taken away EMA to support College students.

The Government's Apprenticeship policies have proved inadequate for young people.  Quite simply there aren't enough of them for young people and they are not of a high enough quality.  The House of Commons reported that the proportion of young people starting apprenticeships has dropped in the last two years, whilst it has increased by over 300% for over-40 year olds. 

The TUC reports that the amount Government will spend £98 million LESS on young people this year through its Work Programme than the was previously spent under the last Government's Youth Guarentee scheme.  It is no wonder that long-term youth unemployment is up by 23%.
In earlier analysis, the TUC reported that the Government's Youth Contract and Work Programme schemes use of private sector providers have lead to some young people being given poor quality work placements and training that are difficult to check up on.

THE CHARTER
The TUC wants to show there were postive actions that people in power could take to tackle youth unemployment.  It has launched the CHARTER FOR A FUTURE THAT WORKS which contains 5 positive actions decision makers need to take in order to tackle youth unemployment:
       1.  Job Guarantees for people unemployed for 6 months or more

  2. Quality Apprenticeships for young people

  3. Quality Work Experience  for young people

  4.Welfare reform to support young people to support young people to study and work

  5. Financial support for costs associated with jobseeking, eg. transport/printing CVs etc.

As soon as the Charter was launched, our campaign group got to work to promote it.  They encouraged local MPs to sign it - 15 Midlands MPs have agreed so far whilst other important politicians such as Rachel Reeves, the Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, signed.  However, 6 MPs in the Black Country have not yet signed up.  Has your MP signed? Ask them to here www.tuc.org.uk/blackcountrycharter


We launched a petition that people could sign to ask all decision makers to commit to the Charter and the group also worked hard getting signatures in Dudley town centre...

...at Freshers Fairs in Dudley and Stourbridge...

...and on the TUC march at the Conservative Party Conference.

THE SUMMIT
The campaign group and TUC decided that we needed a high profile event where young people in the Black Country could tell local decision makers directly to put the Charter into action to start tackling youth unemployment, so the BLACK COUNTRY YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT SUMMIT was born.

The TUC partnered with Dudley Students Union to organise the Summit which will take place at Dudley College's brand new Evolve Theatre.

Local MPs, regional trade union leaders, councillors and employers will be there listening to the voices of young people and describing what they can do to tackle youth unemployment....and if you want to contribute to the debate YOU should be there too.

Note down this date:

November 30th, 2-4pm, Dudley College Evolve Theatre, Dudley, DY1 1AF

Entrance to the Summit is FREE and we can also provide FREE TRAVEL , just email Rosa Crawford today with your requirements and to register: rcrawford@tuc.org.uk