The West of England Mayoral Combined Authority has approved almost £7.1 million to expand the region’s Youth Guarantee Trailblazer, ensuring more young people can access training, education, and work opportunities over the coming years.
The additional investment follows a successful pilot year in which the Youth Guarantee engaged nearly 400 young people across the region. Participants received personalised support, including free bus travel, helping remove practical barriers for those previously not in education, employment, or training.
Since its launch in June, the programme has already supported 70 young people into paid work, including apprenticeships, or into further education and training. A further 200 young people are currently receiving tailored support to help take their next step towards employment.
Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, and South Gloucestershire councils have used the first year of the pilot to target support towards different communities:
- Rural young people in Bath & North East Somerset
- Young people in South Bristol
- Young people with special educational needs and disabilities in South Gloucestershire
Over the coming year, these councils – alongside North Somerset Council, which is joining the programme – will share around £2 million to expand services and reach more young people.
A major new feature of the expanded programme is the creation of a dedicated Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise fund, offering around £700,000 annually for up to three years. This funding will enable local organisations to design new solutions, build on their trusted relationships, and support an estimated 1,100 young people aged 18–21.
The combined authority has confirmed that in 2026/27, the Youth Guarantee Trailblazer aims to support 730 young people, including 360 through the VCSE sector fund.
Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said:
“While our recent economic growth is the best in the country, social mobility in parts of the West is among the worst. This means that children born here are less likely than others to escape poverty or challenges faced growing up. That must change, and that’s why interventions like the Youth Guarantee are so important.
“Working with employers, councils, and, soon, the voluntary sector, we can give all of our young people the right support and guidance to get on in life. The West must ensure that everyone can see a pathway to work, to the careers they want, and the jobs that we need. Together, we can build a brighter future where everyone can contribute to, and share in, the our region’s success.”
To help VCSE organisations understand the opportunities available, an information event will take place on Monday 2 March, offering guidance on flexible, capacity‑based grants and encouraging collaborative, multi‑organisation bids.
Boosting skills, jobs, and opportunities for young people forms a key part of the region’s ten‑year Growth Strategy, which seeks to support the UK’s fastest‑growing regional economy and deliver 72,000 new jobs. Expanding opportunities for young people was also a central commitment in the Child Poverty Action Plan.
The West of England Youth Guarantee is one of eight nationally funded programmes supported by the UK Government’s Department for Work and Pensions under the Get Britain Working initiative. Additional investment comes via the combined authority’s Mayoral Priority Skills Fund.
With substantial new funding and strong partnership working across councils, employers, and the VCSE sector, the Youth Guarantee is set to play a pivotal role in shaping brighter futures for young people across the West of England.
Image credit: iStock
