Help to find work for Universal Credit claimants aged 16 to 24
Extra support is available for people aged 16 to 24 on Universal Credit, including jobs, training and apprenticeships through the Youth Guarantee Journey.
Applies to England, Scotland and Wales
Youth Guarantee Journey
If you get Universal Credit and are aged 16 to 24, you could get extra help to find work through the DWP (Department for Work and Pensions) Youth Guarantee Journey. Ask your work coach if you can get this help.
While you’re on the Youth Guarantee Journey, you’ll keep getting Universal Credit in line with the agreements made in your claimant commitment.
Support you can get
The Youth Guarantee Journey aims to:
- help prepare you for work
- make it easier for you to find a job
- find the right support for you
Based on the support you need, you may get help from:
- a work coach in a jobcentre
- a work coach in a Youth Hub
- a youth employability coach
You’ll agree the best option with your work coach at the start of your Universal Credit claim, or later as your work coach gets to know you.
Types of help
You may be offered:
- a sector based work academy programme (SWAP): learn new skills and get experience of working in a type of job, for example, care, construction or warehouse work
- work experience: build your skills, experience and CV
- an apprenticeship: a paid job with training
- sessions to get help with CV writing, goal setting, job applications and interview practice, run by experienced staff from large companies
- other work-related training
Your work coach at your local jobcentre will let you know what options are available in your area and will support you during the journey.
Travel and childcare costs
If you attend training or work experience, you may be able to ask for money back for travel and childcare. Speak with your work coach about this.
Employment and skills review
After your claimant commitment meeting, you will have a work and skills review with your work coach.
You will get support made for you and be told about the Youth Guarantee Journey. Your work coach will help you set your job goals, and work out what you are good at and what you like.
At the review you will:
- get support to develop and improve your CV
- learn how to search and apply for jobs online
- identify any training you need
- check if you need any support with English, maths or IT
- see which work-based options are available to you
- discuss anything that makes it harder to take part in work-based options
By the end of the review, you will agree steps to:
- move closer to work
- find work
- increase your earnings
Regular work coach appointments
During your time on the journey, you will have regular appointments with your work coach by phone, face-to-face or online.
You will get support to meet your needs and deal with any personal problems you may have that make it harder to find a job.
Your work coach may refer you to other local support and local job opportunities, for example:
- basic skills training
- other work-related training, including a SWAP
- work experience (2 to 8 weeks)
- support from a Youth Hub
- support from a youth employability coach
Youth Guarantee Gateway meeting
From the start of your time on the Youth Guarantee Journey, you will have been given support to take up work, training or education as soon as possible.
After 13 weeks on the journey, you will have a ‘gateway’ appointment where you’ll agree what to do next with your work coach.
You must agree to do one of the following:
- work
- an apprenticeship
- work experience
- a SWAP or Wales Skills to Employment Pathway
- training (up to 16 weeks)
- education that works with Universal Credit
Youth Hubs
Your work coach may refer you to a Youth Hub. A Youth Hub can help you:
- build skills and confidence
- write your CV
- prepare for interviews
If you’re referred to a Youth Hub, you can still take part in the Youth Guarantee Journey if you’re eligible.
There are over 100 Youth Hubs across England, Scotland and Wales, with many more being set up. You can find them in city centres, towns, coastal and rural areas.
They share sites with other organisations such as those focused on housing, employment and skills, and mental health support. This means you can get more help in one place.
Some Youth Hubs offer a drop-in service for all young people, including those not claiming Universal Credit.
Contact your local jobcentre to find your nearest Youth Hub.
Find out more about Youth Hubs.
Youth employability coaches
Your work coach may refer you to a youth employability coach if you have other things stopping you finding a job.
Youth employability coaches are based in jobcentres.
They can support you to move into work for up to 6 months. And they can support you for up to 6 weeks after you start work, to help you settle into your new role.
If you’re referred to a youth employability coach, you can still take part in the Youth Guarantee Journey.
Other help finding work
Websites
JobHelp provides help to find work, support with CVs, applications and interviews. It includes links to national recruitment schemes and information to help people aged under 25 find work.
Find a job lets you search and apply for jobs across the UK. You can narrow your search and set alerts for new vacancies.
Work Hub lets you find jobs, training, careers advice and CV help in one place. Use its tools to plan your next step.
My World of Work, in Scotland, gives advice on jobs, careers, and training. It focuses on young people and skills development.
Job Websites, in Wales, gathers job search, support and training websites.
Services in Scotland
No One Left Behind is an employability scheme giving personalised support to find and keep a job. It is for people of all ages who are unemployed or face problems finding work.
Skills Development Scotland offers advice and supports career development from school into further learning options and employment.
Welsh Government services
The Young Person’s Guarantee Wales gives education and training options to help and support 16- to 24-year-olds. It supports entry into work or self-employment and brings together government, business, charities and the DWP to give the best offer possible.
Jobs Growth Wales is a flexible training and development programme for 16- to 19-year-olds that provides the skills, qualifications and experience to get a job or further training.
Communities for Work Plus, Working Wales is for people aged 20 and over. It offers specialist employment support for long-term unemployed people and helps those with complex barriers, including low skills and health conditions.
ReAct Plus, Working Wales has grants for people who may lose their job or have recently lost their job.
Updates to this page
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The Youth Guarantee Journey replaces the Youth Offer from June 2026.
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Added information on Scottish and Welsh programmes for young people.
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Update to reflect that from 25 September certain young people will be invited to join the Youth Offer on a voluntary basis.
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From 1 December 2021 the help to find a job, work-related training or an apprenticeship though the 'Youth Offer' has been extended to Universal Credit claimants aged 16 and 17.
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First published.