Last week's budget had little cheer for many in the country, the odd incentive to start purchasing here (car scrappage), the little bit of cheer there (Winter Fuel Payments) but on the whole it was pretty much doom and gloom. However two points grabbed my attention, firstly the increase in the top rate of Income Tax and the "Graduate Work scheme", firstly the income tax rise. And on this point the people with wealth complain, but the poor were hit far worse two years ago with the removal of the basic rate of 10p, so it's about time the rich paid more into society isn't it, us poor have.Secondary the budget also announced a "Graduate Talent Pool" scheme, which would leave no graduate or young person without the chance to train or without a job. The problem is it actually meant no 16-25 year old. Students still mainly fall between that age group, however with the increase number of mature students, or students who take time from study to save for University the age range starts to touch these boundaries, and in a greater number goes over the higher boundary of 25.
I myself would be unable to register for the scheme, having turned 26 just a few short days ago, and would be another avenue closed to me. Let's take my example: You leave school at 16 your GCSE's are just short of the grades needed for A Levels, so you retake them and you fail (as the knowledge of your learning disablity still isn't known).
However whilst retaking, you pass two and that would get you on to a foundation in Journalism or Computing. You take the foundation at 17 in Computing (Journalism is in Preston, and the cost of college is still not covered by EMA's). You pass and go on to the BTEC in computing, University now seems in your grasp. You start this course on your 18th birthday and finish it when your 20. At this stage I made the mistake of going to University early which I should have put off a year, but regardless I changed my course towards the end of my first year, and will start on what was a four year University degree (due to failure and discovery of my learning disablity) at the age of 21. Since completing to a respectable standard I have been out of work, and the scheme is announced too late for me.
So what would a fair "Graduate and Young Persons scheme" look like, well it would take into account that some people are mature students, or take time out. It would take into account that poorer students had to and still have to save for University. It would quote along with the age range that students who had left University in the last 3 years would also qualify for the scheme. Maybe it is about cost, but it is also about making sure that the future work force of this country is not saddled with a debt and forced to grovel for pittance on the dole.
As for me, well I start work thankfully in a few weeks.
