New Deal for 18 to 24 Year OldsWhat is the New Deal for 18 to 24 Year Olds?The New Deal for 18 to 24 Year Olds is a programme which aims to help young people who have been unemployed and claiming Jobseeker's Allowance for six months or more, to find employment and increase their chances of gaining employment through the provision of high quality work, education and training. The young people will get the skills, training and experience they need to get into work and build their long-term employment prospects.
The participants will enter Gateway where they will get their own New Deal Personal Adviser to help and guide them while they are on New Deal. Normally you will have the same Personal Adviser throughout your time on New Deal. There is early entry for certain groups who are considered to be disadvantaged in getting a job.
During Gateway you will get:
- an initial phase of help to find unsubsidised jobs.
- a placement on a 2 week Core Gateway course designed to provide all participants with job-seeking and job-keeping skills.
- advice and guidance to help you find work.
- access to independent careers advice and guidance.
- access to measures to improve immediate job prospects e.g. to improve Jobsearch techniques, confidence building.
- access to short essential skills courses, discussion with option providers and "tasters" of options.
- help from specialist agencies if needed.
- preparation of a New Deal Action Plan.
- referral to New Deal options.
New Deal offers five options, all of which last for between 13 and 52 weeks.
- A job with an employer with at least one day a week spent in education or training. Employers will be offered £60.00 employer subsidy per week for up to 26 weeks.
- As part of the employment option the young person can choose to enter self-employment "Test Trading". During Test Trading the young person can experience the realities of self-employment while still receiving support and guidance from a provider. You will be paid an allowance by the SSA and time spent in the test trading works towards an approved qualification.
- Full time education and training which lasts for up to 26 weeks. While on the option you will receive an allowance equal to their Jobseeker's Allowance + £15.38 top-up.
- A job or placement with a voluntary/community sector organisation up to 6 months. While on this option you will receive either wages from the provider or an allowance equal to your Jobseeker's Allowance + £15.38 "top-up". One day a week or equivalent will be spent on education or training.
- A job or placement, with the Environmental Task Force. This involves working for up to six months on a project which aims to improve the young persons chances of getting a job whilst at the same time improving their local environment. While on this option you will receive an allowance equal to your Jobseeker's Allowance + £15.38 per week "top-up" and will continue to receive any passported benefits. One day a week or equivalent will be spent on education or training.
- If you need help with essential skills you will be able to avail of Essential Skills Training (EST) for up to 26 weeks. Its primary aim is to address essential skills needs through the achievement of a nationally recognised essential skills qualification. You will be paid an extra £10 per week while on EST. If you achieve an EST qualification you will be paid a bomus of £100.
For those who do not secure employment at the end of a New Deal option a range of support measures will be available to help young people back into work as quickly as possible.
The New Deal will operate in such a way that those who refuse to participate will be repeatedly offered places on New Deal options and will be penalised by benefit sanctions if they refuse to take up the place.
Access to Jobseeker's Allowance hardship payments during the penalty period will only be available to those who are in a vulnerable group.
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