Turn2us submits evidence to the Milburn Review

In January 2026 Turn2us submitted evidence to the government-commissioned Milburn Review. The review's aim is to investigate why young people, between the age of 16-24, are not in education, employment or training (NEET) and make recommendations on how to increase opportunities for young people.

Rising numbers of young people who are NEET is a very concerning but complex issue. Young people are impacted by challenging economic conditions, rising rates of mental illness, inadequate financial support and poor employment support.  

Turn2us’s work has demonstrated how the current culture and reputation of the DWP and the Jobcentre reduces trust and pushes people further from employment and deeper into hardship. Intrusive assessments, complex application processes and punitive sanctions reinforce negative stereotypes, knock confidence and leave young people feeling infantilised.   

At Turn2us we want as many young people as possible to have financial security and the opportunity to thrive. We will continue to push the government to ensure their reforms support young people to take their first steps towards rewarding careers, live well with disability and ensure support is always there for all of us when we need it.

The key recommendations we submitted are:

• The basic rate of Universal Credit should at least cover the cost of essentials like food, household bills and travel, – including for those below the age of 25.  
• Retain the Universal Credit Health Element for people aged 22 and under, recognising the critical role it plays as financial protection for people unable to work due to ill-health.  
• Employment support should be high quality, trauma-informed and tailored, focusing on nurturing ambitions, overcoming challenges and building the confidence of young people.  
• Rather than infantilising with threats of sanctions, implement an initial three-month period of voluntary, claimant-led engagement with employment support, to nurture ambition and build confidence. 
• The government must avoid, and actively counter, damaging narratives about young people, instead helping to build understanding of the challenges they face.

Reforms must focus on building confidence, navigating complex barriers and giving young people the time and space to explore their motivations and needs.

This requires recognising their challenges, understanding trauma, creating genuinely welcoming spaces, and removing punitive elements from the social security system. It also means giving young people adequate support when they aren’t able to work due to disability or their health.  

Support should be delivered with dignity and respect at its heart; so that the social security system is always there for us when we need it and is something we can all be proud of.