CAS has responded to an enquiry by Westminster's Work and Pensions Committee exploring how best to support young people not in education, training or employment (NEET). Evidence from our network shows that young people in these circumstances face complex barriers to participation.   
Our key finding include:

•    Holistic, seamless support that effectively addresses the complexity of the lives of young people in vulnerable circumstances is mandatory if the underlying drivers of young people becoming Not in Education, Employment, or Training (NEET) are to be tackled 
•    The challenges being faced by young people vary both by individual and locality - this means that a whole-person, flexible approach built on partnership working across local and national services is needed - this includes access to banking, digital services, local transport and childcare infrastructure in a way that recognises the impact of gender and disability.  
•    The ongoing Review of Universal Credit (UC) must deliver changes to social security to better support young people to positive destinations – this means:
1.    ensuring standard UC allowance is equalised for all working-age adults  
2.    facilitating access to a new Health Element of Universal Credit for people under the age of twenty-two at the earliest opportunity  
•    The advice sector, characterised by high levels of trust and deep local knowledge, plays a vital role in helping young people achieve positive outcomes – the advice sector must be supported with long-term and sustainable funding