Autumn time brings soup bowls, bonfires and… Budgets

Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered Labour’s Budget last night with many highs and lows. Although many things would have jumped out to us all, we will focus on what affects young people.

Like many in the youth sector, we agree with #PlanForThe136k collective that there have been some good and bad things that have come out of this budget.

The Good:

Investment in homelessness and rough sleeping services by an extra £233 million taking the total to £1 billion for 2025-26 (though as Centrepoint says there is already a funding gap of £330 million for young people homelessness services…)

Raising the minimum wage to £10 per hour for 18-20-year-olds as part of phasing in the same minimum wage for all adults; and investment in affordable and social housing.

The Bad:

An ending to the different housing benefit taper rates for young people in supported housing, which is what the #MakeWorkPay part of this campaign was calling for.

There is still more work to be done.

Oxfordshire youth continues to support the #PlanForThe136k, where we continue to campaign for an ending to the different housing benefit taper rates for young people in supported housing, which is what the #MakeWorkPay part of this campaign was calling for. We call for a youth-specific chapter in the Government’s strategy to end homelessness. – Natalie Petrysyzn, Head of YPSA

An extra £233 million is merely a drop in the ocean of what is needed to create long-lasting systemic change.