An EU-UK mobility scheme won't erase the 'violent indifference' against young people. But it's a start | Zoe Williams

Youth Plan Won't Stem 'Violent Indifference' towards Young People | Zoe Williams

The government's new Youth Matters plan, with a whopping £500m budget aimed at boosting resilience and teaching skills among young people, has been welcomed by many as a necessary step in addressing the 'violent indifference' of politicians towards this age group. However, critics argue that such initiatives are merely a Band-Aid solution to deeper systemic issues.

The government's plan follows Lisa Nandy's scathing critique of the current state of affairs, where young people have seen their economic prospects and work opportunities systematically destroyed since 2010. The tripling of tuition fees, which saddled students with astronomical debts, is just one example of how politicians have prioritized electoral self-interest over the well-being of young people.

Brexit has further exacerbated this situation by removing young people's freedom of movement and making their country poorer. The government's failure to address these issues head-on has led to a significant exodus of young people seeking opportunities abroad, with Australia, Canada, and New Zealand becoming prime destinations.

The proposed mobility scheme is seen as a step in the right direction, but it raises concerns about its potential impact on British youth. With only 44,000 visas available in the first year, critics fear that this will not be enough to stem the tide of emigration. Moreover, the emphasis on young people being 'energetic, adventurous, ambitious' may perpetuate a narrow and outdated view of what it means to be young.

Ultimately, the Youth Matters plan is a long-overdue attempt to acknowledge the struggles faced by young people. However, it remains to be seen whether this initiative will truly address the systemic issues that have led to widespread disillusionment among this age group.

so i made a simple mind map about the youth matters plan
+£500m budget
- boosting resilience & teaching skills
- tripling of tuition fees (problem?)
- prioritizing electoral self-interest over young people's well-being
- Brexit impact
- freedom of movement lost
- economic prospects & work opportunities destroyed
- proposed mobility scheme ️
- 44,000 visas (not enough?)
- emphasis on 'energetic' & 'ambitious' traits

anyway, the plan is a step in the right direction but we need to address the root causes of this 'violent indifference'

the government's £500m budget for youth matters feels like just a drop in the ocean considering how much young people are struggling with debt and lack of opportunities it's all well and good to have a plan, but we need real systemic changes to tackle the root causes of this issue. maybe if they actually listened to young people instead of just talking about them, things would be different

I'm gettin' mixed vibes on this one . On one hand, £500m is a decent chunk of change and I reckon it's good they're finally recognizin' the struggles young people face. But at the same time, I think we need to be real about the root causes here. It ain't just about throwin' some money at 'em and expectin' things to get better overnight. We gotta tackle the systemic issues that've been ignored for years – the tuition fees debacle, Brexit's impact on young people's freedom of movement... that's what really needs addressin'.

The proposed mobility scheme's a good start, but I'm worried about the 44,000 visas just scratchin' the surface. And what about all the other issues like lack of job opportunities and affordable housing? We can't just focus on one aspect without lookin' at the bigger picture . Still, it's better than nothin', so fingers crossed this plan actually delivers some tangible change .

I think it's kinda sad that we need a £500m budget to even talk about addressing the struggles of young ppl . I mean, shouldn't our politicians be doing this already? It feels like they're just trying to save face and pretend they care when they haven't been doing enough to support us in the first place. And 44k visas just isn't gonna cut it - what's gonna happen when we need more opportunities than that?

I'm not sure if £500m is enough to tackle the deeper problems facing young people . I mean, think about it - tuition fees went up three times since 2010, and now we're seeing a whole generation feeling like they're stuck in a rut . And let's be real, Brexit has been a disaster for them - no freedom of movement, economy in shambles... it's no wonder so many are leaving the country .

The proposal for more visas might seem like a good start, but I'm worried about the numbers . 44,000 visas? That's not going to make a dent in the number of young people who feel like they're missing out on opportunities abroad . And what about those who can't afford it or don't have the right connections? It feels like we're just patching up the surface without really addressing the root causes of the problem .

I do think it's a step in the right direction that politicians are finally acknowledging the struggles faced by young people . But we need more than just a plan - we need systemic change . That means tackling issues like inequality, lack of affordable housing, and access to mental health services... not just throwing money at it .

£500m sounds like a drop in the ocean UK youth are more worried about student debt than 'resilience' skills

I gotta say, £500m sounds like a decent start but I'm not sure if it's gonna make a dent in all these problems... seems like we need some real policy changes over here I mean, tripling tuition fees is still outrageous and the whole Brexit thing has had such a negative impact on young people's prospects. And what's with this 'energetic, adventurous, ambitious' vibe? Like, aren't they just trying to survive in a pretty messed up world? Maybe we need more than just a plan, you know?

I gotta say, £500m is a decent start but we need more substantial changes in policy . The gov's been playing catch-up for ages and it's high time they took concrete steps to address the root causes of this 'violent indifference' . A mobility scheme with 44k visas in the first year? That's just a drop in the ocean compared to how many young people are leaving the country . And what about addressing the economic prospects and work opportunities that have been systematically destroyed since 2010? The gov needs to get real and stop playing politics with the futures of our youth

ugh this just keeps getting worse... think about all those 20-somethings who've had their entire lives planned out, only to watch their dreams get destroyed by Brexit and rising tuition fees... £500m isn't even enough to cover the damage done already and what's with the emphasis on being 'energetic' and 'ambitious'? like young people are just expected to magically become more motivated because of a fancy new plan meanwhile, those in their 30s and beyond are just going to keep enjoying their careers and benefits... when will things get better?

I think the government's £500m budget is a good start, but let's not sugarcoat it, we need real change here! The fact that they're tripling again with tuition fees is just outrageous and shows that politicians still care more about lining their own pockets than helping young people. Brexit has been a disaster for our youth and it's high time someone took responsibility for it. I mean, come on, 44k visas isn't going to cut it when we need to attract top talent to stay competitive in the world economy! What they really need is to get their act together and create more opportunities, not just a bunch of feel-good initiatives that don't address the real issues. We can't just rely on 'resilience' training when the system itself is broken!

I'm still not convinced about these big budget plans for young people . Like, what's £500m really gonna change? It feels like a drop in the ocean compared to all the cash they're pouring into dodgy wars and infrastructure projects that don't even benefit us locals . And let's be real, politicians have been screwing over young people for ages, it's not just one thing - tripling tuition fees was a massive slap in the face, and then Brexit comes along and steals their future opportunities . Now they're trying to offer them some visa scheme, but 44k visas is basically nothing when we need so many more .