The Welsh Government's Young Person’s Guarantee - providing everyone under 25 with the offer of work, education, training, or self-employment - has been launched by Economy Minister Vaughan Gething.

He says the programme will help ensure there is "no lost generation" in Wales, following the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Young Person’s Guarantee is a key commitment in the Welsh Government’s five year Programme for Government.

The package brings together programmes designed to provide the right support at the right time for the diverse needs of young people across Wales.

Mr Gething said: “The Welsh Government is determined that there will be no lost generation in Wales as a result of the pandemic.

“Our young people hold the key to Wales’ future success – which is why I’m delighted to officially launch our Young Person’s Guarantee today.

"We are putting in place an ambitious programme designed to provide everyone under 25 in Wales with the offer of work, education, training, or self-employment.

“This is the bold action we must take to help young people get the best possible start.

"We want to give young people the support they need for a brighter future when leaving school, college, university, if they are unemployed or even facing redundancy.

“Whatever the uncertainties we face, we can be sure of one thing - failing to step up to support young people today, guarantees economic failure tomorrow."

Phase one of the Guarantee provides young people aged 16 to 24 in Wales with access to:

• one simple route to access the guarantee via Working Wales - support and advice from advisers will be provided in multiple forms, including virtually, on the high street, and through improved outreach facilities across Wales;

• self-employment advice and support available through Big Ideas Wales;

• traineeships, that provide work experience and training;

• training and wage incentives via the ReAct programme;

• a place on one of the Welsh Government’s outreach Community Employability programmes;

• help to find an apprenticeship;

• a new course search platform, for those wanting to enter further education or higher education, to make it easier to find their choice;

• a referral to one of the programmes funded by other partners, such as DWP and Local Authorities.