youthmoney

Earlier this week I was talking to a youth worker. She was saying how delighted she was that three of the young people who attended the project had just started college courses. Given their life histories, this was a major, major step forward for them. 

I asked about Education Maintenance Allowance and she said, yes, they were all getting the maximum £30. Relied on it. It made going to college possible. Still difficult, given their circumstances, but possible.

But, she said, the money didn’t arrive last Friday. The project subbed them out of petty cash to make sure they had the bus fares and lunch money for college this week. 

She was horrified to hear that payments may be delayed till after Christmas. She could see the arrangements, that involved overcoming so many barriers, just falling apart.

Politicians who believe EMA is just an incentive are not living in the same world as her, or the young people she works with.