For millions of young people in the UK, the financial safety net provided by family is not an option, leaving them to navigate a precarious economic landscape alone. While recent data indicates that more than 40% of 25-year-olds are residing with their parents, individuals lacking familial support are increasingly falling behind on essentials such as rent and food, according to Citizens Advice.
Eleanor Bell, a 23-year-old from East Riding of Yorkshire, holds a first-class degree from the University of Central Lancashire but has been unable to secure stable employment since graduating two years ago. Having entered the care system at age 10, Bell lacks the intergenerational wealth and guidance that many peers benefit from. She currently stays with her boyfriend outside Penistone, South Yorkshire, but notes that the rural setting is a barrier to job hunting as she does not hold a driving licence.
“I guess it makes me a bit sad… It’s like everyone in their 20s is having to tread water, but I haven’t been given a buoyancy aid,” Bell told the BBC. Official statistics highlight the disparity: 39% of care leavers aged 19 to 21 in England are not in education, employment, or training, compared to roughly 13% of young people overall.
In Sunderland, 24-year-old Sam Barrett left a full-time hospitality role to care for her mother. She is now studying health and social care part-time but finds that her income from Careers Allowance and Universal Credit is insufficient to cover basic expenses. Barrett expressed frustration that government support appears to push carers toward debt rather than providing adequate financial assistance.
“I’m saving the government money by caring for my mam. The government aren’t doing anything to help you, they’re basically saying just get into debt,” Barrett said. She also noted the inequity of watching peers receive funding for driving lessons or vehicles, privileges she was never offered.
The financial strain is further illustrated by Ezgi Polat, a 23-year-old from Cambridgeshire who accumulated approximately £4,000 in debt after losing her job last year. With her own parents facing financial difficulties, Polat could not rely on family aid. Her situation deteriorated when a local bus cancellation prevented her from attending the job centre, resulting in benefit cuts.
Polat, who received £360 monthly in Universal Credit against £460 in rent plus utilities, eventually sought help from Citizens Advice. Her rent arrears were recently cleared by the council, and she has since secured warehouse employment. She criticized the notion that young people lack ambition, stating, “They’d be surprised at the amount of people out there so desperate for work and so desperate for support but with nowhere to turn to.”
A recent Citizens Advice survey of over 5,500 participants found that 57% of adults in their 20s are behind on at least one bill, compared to 36% across the broader adult population.
Government officials point to a £2.5 billion investment in apprenticeships and job grants, alongside the Renters’ Rights Act, as measures to assist young people. However, Luke Young, head of policy at Citizens Advice, argues that the divide between those with and without family support is widening, leaving vulnerable youth behind.
The bus cancellation affecting Ezgi’s benefits is just one example of how small issues snowball when you have zero safety net.
Government keeps talking about apprenticeships, but what about those who already graduated? Where’s the support for them?
I didn’t realize the gap was this stark. 57% of people in their twenties behind on bills? That’s alarming.
Eleanor’s story really hit home. Graduating with a first and still struggling shows how broken the system is for care leavers.