Today’s report on young people and work by former government minister Alan Milburn comes as no surprise to West Midlands personal development charity Sport 4 Life UK.
The Jewellery Quarter-based organisation, which marks its 20th anniversary this year, supports the findings of the review, saying they reflect the situation across Birmingham, Solihull and the Black Country.
Commenting on Mr Milburn’s report, Sport 4 Life UK’s Chief Operating Officer Rob Wells said: “Behind the figures are young people with talent, ambition and potential who are too often being failed by systems that were not designed to support them effectively.
“At Sport 4 Life UK, we see this every day across the West Midlands. Young people are facing increasingly complex barriers to employment including poor mental health, low confidence, lack of opportunities, school disengagement and limited access to meaningful work experience and trusted adult support.”
He added: “Importantly, the overwhelming majority of young people want to work and build positive futures for themselves. The challenge is not a lack of aspiration. It is a lack of accessible opportunities, joined-up support and sustained investment in prevention and progression pathways.”
Through sport, mentoring, employability training and qualifications, Sport 4 Life UK enables thousands of young people every year to improve their confidence, wellbeing and employability skills and progress into education, training and employment.
In 2024/25 alone, Sport 4 Life UK supported almost 4,000 young people. Among these were 524 youngsters classified as NEETs (not in employment, education or training), more than 300 of whom progressed into employment, education or training.
Rob Wells continued: “Today’s report should act as a catalyst for long-term action. We need coordinated investment in youth services, earlier intervention, employer engagement and community-based support that meets young people where they are. I call on our region’s political leaders to step up for the next generation. Without action, we will remain locked in a long-term cycle of poor growth and soaring societal problems.
“Youth unemployment is not inevitable. With the right support, young people can thrive and contribute positively to their communities, local economies and future workforce needs.”
Read the full Young people and work: interim report.