CALLING all organisations in Liverpool that want to help young people into work – Liverpool City Council has funding that may support your projects!
As part of the national drive to support younger residents who are economically inactive or are NEET (not in employment, education or training), Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has granted the council a share of £5m as part of the national Youth Guarantee Trailblazer (YGT) programme.
The City region has been designated as 1 of 8 YGT areas which have been tasked with bringing together existing employment support as well as testing new approaches to ensure that all young people aged from 18-21 will have access to help to find work.
The work completed by the Trailblazer areas will help the government to better understand what works in terms of supporting young people into employment.
The elements of the YGT programme are:-
- Enhanced support for care experienced young people
- Behavioural insight research into young people who are long-term NEET
- Employment and employability support for young people to address existing gaps in provision
- Engaging employers to support the recruitment and retention of young people.
And now the council is inviting organisations to apply for grants to develop innovative employment programmes in the following areas:-
Grant 1 – Entry-to-employment programme with intensive wraparound support
For organisations that can deliver customised and innovative programmes to support disengaged young people on their journey towards employment, with enhanced mentoring.
Grant 2 – Creative and sports programmes
For organisations that can deliver customised, innovative programmes using creative approaches with arts, health and wellbeing, or sports themes, to motivate, excite and engage young people enabling them to progress towards a positive destination.
Grant 3 – In-work support for young people with SEND
For organisations who can support progression into work for Trailblazer participants age from 17 -21 with additional needs who are about to enter paid work.
Grant 4 – Managers as Mentors employer training
For organisations that can deliver a training programme to equip local businesses with the skills, knowledge, and tools to effectively support and retain disadvantaged young people, including care-experienced young people, in the workplace.
All 4 grants are now open for applications and should be made at liverpool.gov.uk/trailblazergrants by 19 September 2025.
Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said:- "Every young person in our area deserves the chance to fulfil their potential – but too often, their opportunities are limited by circumstances outside of their control. Through our Young Person’s Guarantee, we’re working to put that right by giving people access to the training, support and opportunities they need to get on in life.This funding will help us to test new ideas, bring fresh thinking to the table, and work with local organisations who know our communities best. Together, we can make sure that no young person is left behind – and that they have the c hance to build a brighter future here in our region."
Cllr Joanne Kennedy, Cabinet Member for Employment, Educational Attainment and Skills, said:- “This funding provides Liverpool with a real opportunity to build on the great work that is already taking place in the City to support young people into employment. We want to hear from organisations and employers who have innovative and sustainable ideas of how to encourage young people into employment. The City region has already made great strides with its Young Person’s Guarantee and we are confident that in Liverpool we can make the most of the funding we have been given to support partners so that we can all invest in the future of our young people.”
The YGT programme will run until March 2026 and builds on Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram’s existing Young Person’s Guarantee. It is part of last November’s Get Britain Working White Paper which is seeking to reduce economic inactivity and youth unemployment.
For more information on the grants, interested organisations can also email:- youthtrailblazer@liverpool.gov.uk.
