• YouthPath LCR partnership between Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and national charity Movement to Work
• Offers 16 to 30-year-olds who are not in education, employment or training the chance to upskill, earn or learn
• Builds on Mayor Steve Rotheram’s Young Person’s Guarantee and adds to city region work as a Youth Guarantee Trailblazer
• Launched at the Raise up Youth Summit at Box Park, Liverpool
• The Combined Authority is the second region to launch the initiative

An ambitious initiative has been launched to help tackle youth unemployment across the Liverpool City Region.

YouthPath has been created by the national youth employability charity Movement to Work (MtW) to inspire and support employers to help young people develop their skills, secure an apprenticeship or find a job.

The partnership YouthPath LCR has been launched by MtW and the Combined Authority at the Raise Up Youth Summit in Liverpool, which brought together 300 young people and hundreds of employers to explore how social mobility can drive inclusive growth. Also included were LFC legend and Chair of Football for Change, Jamie Carragher, and Natasha Jonas, a former two-weight world light-middleweight boxing champion.

YouthPath LCR is designed to provide high-quality opportunities for young people aged 16-30 who face barriers to work – tackling a problem which sees one million young people across the UK not in education, employment or training, with parts of the city region among the hardest hit.

Under the plan, which builds on Mayor Steve Rotheram’s Young Person’s Guarantee and the city region’s inclusion in the Government’s £45m Youth Guarantee Trailblazer, Movement to Work will work alongside local authorities and partner organisations to match young people with opportunities.

Councillor Marion Atkinson, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Portfolio Holder for Employment, Education and Skills and Leader of Sefton Council said:

“YouthPath is a powerful new initiative that builds on our region’s commitment to supporting young people into meaningful employment and add value to our existing support. We are confident it will make a difference, helping young people develop their skills, gain experience, and secure sustainable jobs.

“By bringing together some of the country’s biggest employers, YouthPath will help us go even further — creating more opportunities for young people to thrive and contribute to the Liverpool City Region’s growth and prosperity.”

Sareena Bains, CEO of Movement to Work, added:

“Now more than ever, young people need our support — and that’s why we are proud to bring YouthPath to the Liverpool City Region. First launched in the West Midlands earlier this year, the initiative has already shown the power of collaboration in opening doors for those who need it most.

We are committed to inspiring and supporting employers to create meaningful pathways into work for young people who are NEET, while also helping businesses become more inclusive and future-ready. With more than a decade of experience connecting employers with young talent at no cost, we’re ready to help businesses step up, get involved, and be part of something truly transformative.”

Launch at Raise Up Youth Summit

YouthPath has been officially launched at Raise Up — a unique intergenerational youth summit that has brought together 300 young people and hundreds of employers to explore how social mobility can drive inclusive economic growth.

The day has been filled with inspiring discussions, live networking, and future-focused workshops. Key highlights from Movement to Work including:

A keynote address and call to action from Councillor Marion Atkinson, Leader of Sefton Council and Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, urging businesses across the region to get behind YouthPath and pledge their support.

A panel discussion led by Movement to Work CEO, Sareena Bains, on breaking down barriers to employment — featuring powerful lived experiences from young people like Emma Carter, who benefitted from a Movement to Work placement with the Civil Service and has since secured permanent employment.

Practical training sessions delivered by Movement to Work iin partnership with Accenture, Microsoft, and LinkedIn, equipping young people with digital skills and AI tools to enhance their employability.

The headline sponsor for this summit was Liverpool-headquartered law firm Weightmans, which announced its highest-ever ranking on the 2025 Social Mobility Employer Index, achieving 15th place.

Join the Movement

The launch is just the beginning. Employers across the Liverpool City Region are now invited to sign up to YouthPath and join a growing coalition committed to tackling youth unemployment.

Movement to Work provides expert, fully-funded support to help businesses:

Develop or strengthen youth employment programmes.

Access a diverse, motivated talent pipeline.

Make a real impact on their local community.

For more information on how to get involved visit: movementtowork.com/youthpath-liverpool-city-region-combined-authority/

Together, we can unlock opportunity, strengthen communities, and build a brighter future for young people in Liverpool.