Speaking today Joe Levenson, Director of Communications and Campaigns at Young Women’s Trust said:
“The Chancellor said he would do ’whatever it takes’ to support the British public get through the crisis caused by the pandemic, but it will take a lot more than today’s measures to support the 1.5 million young women who have lost income in the past year.
While we welcome the extension of furlough and support for self-employed workers in particular, the Chancellor risks plunging young women into poverty later this year by only extending the £20 uplift to Universal Credit for six months. Young women, many of whom have had to claim benefits for the first time, have told us how vital this lifeline has been for them, which is why the uplift must be made permanent and extended to other benefits including Carer’s Allowance. Otherwise this much needed support will end at the very time the furlough scheme winds down and job losses mount up.
As part of a long-term solution to ensure young women don’t face poverty, there needs to be a greater focus on investing in jobs and training for young women, many of whom continue to be locked out of opportunities. The Chancellor talks about building a future economy based on ‘green jobs’. This must include investment in childcare and social care as we look to give back to those sectors and young women that have supported the country through the pandemic. Crucially too, the Government must do much more to better understand and mitigate against the continued impact of the pandemic on young women, including by publishing full impact assessments of laws and policies.”
