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Matt Lent

@mattlent.bsky.social
497 followers 154 following 79 posts

CEO of youth employment charity - youthcareers.bsky.social and Trustee at Young Barnet Foundation. Expect posts about young people, education, employment, politics & charity matters.

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Reposted by Matt Lent
Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
New post just out: I talked to Alan Milburn on why the government is struggling, how politics has changed since he was in Blair's cabinet, and how he's proposing to tackle youth unemplyoment. (Free to read) open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/m...
open.substack.com
"My generation thought in argument"
Alan Milburn on how politics has changed and tackling youth unemployment
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Matt Lent @mattlent.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
This is one of the most damning indictments of the previous Government and the damaging austerity agenda. It's impact is being felt deeply today and will last for a generation.
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The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 07/02/2026
“It brings up mixed emotions to represent 🇺🇸 right now… there’s obviously a lot of things going on I’m not the biggest fan of.” #Olympics2026 #TrumpsAmerica
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David Aaronovitch @davidsonofaaron.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
No thanks Mr Trump. A free post open.substack.com/pub/davidaar...
open.substack.com
Should British Jews flee to America?
A reply to an invitation
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OldManLefty @jonbandit.bsky.social · 19/01/2026
This site keeps track of Trump's corruption for us, because our brains can't hold that much data.. campaignlegal.org/sites/defaul...
campaignlegal.org
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Matt Lent @mattlent.bsky.social · 17/12/2025
Brexit was always going to be a disaster for so many, but as is usually the way, it’s young people who felt the biggest impact. The rejoining of Erasmus is a meaningful win, next we need the right for under 25s to live and work in the EU. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
theguardian.com
UK to rejoin EU’s Erasmus student exchange programme
Exclusive: British students will be able to participate in EU-wide scheme from January 2027, sources say
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Matt Lent @mattlent.bsky.social · 15/12/2025
The world’s greediest person.
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Matt Lent @mattlent.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
How dare we include asylum seekers in the conversation about asylum seekers 🙄
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Matt Lent @mattlent.bsky.social · 03/12/2025
Can we call them the 10 greediest people in the world please!?
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Youth Careers Collective @youthcareers.bsky.social · 01/12/2025
✅ Vote! Vote! Vote! ✅ So much hard work was put into the curation of our new film, so it feels so rewarding to be shortlisted for the Smiley Charity Film Awards. Please vote and share with your networks! Vote here‼️- smileycharityfilmawards.com/films/about-...
smileycharityfilmawards.com
About Youth Careers Collective
The Smiley Charity Film Awards is the world’s biggest campaign to promote cause-based films. Nearly half a million members of the public have voted in the…
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Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 10/11/2025
SUPERB and angrily unvarnished response, by former BBC chairman, Lord Patten. "I don't think that we should allow ourselves to be bullied into thinking that the BBC is only any good, if it reflects the prejudice of the last person who shouted at it." ~AA
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Jessica Elgot @jessicaelgot.bsky.social · 10/11/2025
Maybe Keir should demand the heads of major US news networks any time they imply Britain is on the brink of civil war or that we live under sharia law. Or does it not work both ways?
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The Guardian @theguardian.com · 02/11/2025
A million young people aren’t in a job or training. Britain has a problem | Richard Partington
theguardian.com
A million young people aren’t in a job or training. Britain has a problem | Richard Partington
With the jobless rate now at 4.8%, ministers are urged to do more, especially for those with disabilities or health conditions
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Youth Careers Collective @youthcareers.bsky.social · 31/10/2025
We can finally share our new film, kindly funded by helpfilm and beautifully curated by Orlando Del Maestro. Check it out below: www.youtube.com/watch?si=jsX...
youtube.com
About Youth Careers Collective
YouTube video by Youth Careers Collective
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Youth Careers Collective @youthcareers.bsky.social · 31/10/2025
The big day is finally here! 👏
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Matt Lent @mattlent.bsky.social · 22/10/2025
So it’s ok for these numpties to migrate to another country because of political differences, but not for others to migrate to another country to flee war, persecution, environmental disaster or severe economic hardship.
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The News Agents @thenewsagents.co.uk · 18/10/2025
"Trump has ordered a crackdown on Antifa, as if Antifa were an actual organisation with a head, phone number, or a committee. "MAGA is associating people who protest with a radicalised terrorist network that they have created in their own imagination" www.thenewsagents.co.uk/article/maga...
thenewsagents.co.uk
MAGA’s war on Antifa: ‘A terror network they have created in their own imagination’ | The News Agents
House Speaker Mike Johnson has warned of Antifa-backed ‘hate America’ marches taking place this weekend, but is it just protests arranged by pensioners furious at Donald Trump’s administration?
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Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 16/10/2025
British.
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Sam Wilson @samwilson.bsky.social · 15/10/2025
For those who don’t work in youth work, it’s hard to describe how bleak it is out there. We just pulled the rug on a generation of young people and are now shrugging our shoulders and hoping social media is the cause of all ills because then it feels less of our fault
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Olly Benson @ollybenson.uk · 12/10/2025
"More than half of the young people involved said they would like to reduce screen time, but 46% felt “unable” to. And then came the kicker: “93% of young people who have attended a youth centre say it has made a positive difference to their lives.”"
theguardian.com
Britain's youth clubs have been quietly decimated. What's most revealing is that few seem to care | John Harris
These vital spaces have been the first targets of cuts in a nation that favours age over youth – despite being the remedy for blights such as social division, polarisation and loneliness, says Guardia...
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The Dangerous Ones @thedangerousones.com · 04/10/2025
This. Is. Brilliant.
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Dan Fox @d4nf0x.bsky.social · 03/10/2025
Wednesday, before Yom Kippur came in, I took three friends from my local Jewish community around the Houses of Parliament. /
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Youth Careers Collective @youthcareers.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
The wait is finally over. For the past 6 months we’ve been working hard behind the scenes on an exciting and important change, and we are now very proud to let you know that from November this year, Spark! will become Youth Careers Collective.
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Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 26/09/2025
“Let’s call it for what it is: bullshit. The truth is, politicians have talked about little else but immigration for decades and in the most dehumanising ways. Polanski added: “Stop the boats’ is all we hear. Well, today I'm saying ‘stop the bullshit’.” www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
independent.co.uk
UK faces ‘battle for the soul’ of the country, says Starmer amid Reform threat
In a rallying cry to progressives around the world, the Prime Minister said allies must stop the ‘politics of predatory grievance’.
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Anthony Painter @anthonypainter.bsky.social · 20/09/2025
1243 youth centres have closed since 2010. 42 percent of local authorities have no council-run youth centres in their area. I wonder why so many young people feel disconnected. (From harpercollins.co.uk/products/how...)
harpercollins.co.uk
How to Defeat the Far Right: Lessons From Hope Not Hate
‘A brilliant and challenging book’ GORDON BROWN From the founder of Britain’s leading antifascist organisation, HOPE not hate, this is an urgent call to resist the forces of extremism on the march in ...
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Jonathan Freedland @jonathanfreedland.bsky.social · 19/09/2025
'Farage's core claim is that he somehow speaks for the British people, that his views reflect the “commonsense” views of the silent majority. It’s not true. On issue after issue, including those that define him, he is out of step with most Britons.' Latest column www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
Trump has dragged the US to the abyss and Nigel Farage would do the same to Britain. Here’s how to stop him | Jonathan Freedland
It’s not too late to puncture the Reform leader’s populist myth. His ‘make Britain great again’ act is out of step with the British people, says Guardian columnist Jonathan Freedland
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Matt Lent @mattlent.bsky.social · 18/09/2025
There is no organisation called Antifa, at best it’s a loose affiliation of activists, with some vague common values and goals, i.e. being anti-fascist. What this made up classification as a terrorist organisation means is, they can lock up/disappear whoever they want by just calling them #Antifa.
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Youth Careers Collective @youthcareers.bsky.social · 16/09/2025
Our CEO, @mattlent.bsky.social and our Head of Impact, Jay St.John Levy, were pleased to be at the launch of the #YouthCensus2025 this afternoon, hosted by Youth Employment UK. An important annual census into the experience of young people across the country.
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Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 14/09/2025
We all need to be having these conversations.
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Third Sector @thirdsector.co.uk · 10/09/2025
"I’ve grown increasingly frustrated making the case for why investment in communities – and building trust within them – is essential to solving political, social, environmental and economic challenges" @helengou.bsky.social @theyoungfdn.bsky.social
thirdsector.co.uk
Helen Goulden: Our institutions need to work together differently to achieve better social outcomes
But as I leave the sector after 17 years, the prospect of meaningful action to accompany government rhetoric feels intangible
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Matt Lent @mattlent.bsky.social · 08/09/2025
Congratulations @damedianajohnson.bsky.social for being appointed to Minister of State at the Department Work and Pensions. The whole team @sparkcharity.bsky.social look forward to working with you to constructively address the youth unemployment crisis.
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Matt Lent @mattlent.bsky.social · 05/09/2025
I’ve always been astounded by the apparent randomness of reshuffles and cabinet appointment. MPs confidently taking on hugely complex remits with massive multi-disciplinary teams, and no relevant experience or subject expertise. I mean Liz Kendall studied History,
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The Young Foundation @theyoungfdn.bsky.social · 26/08/2025
EVENT📢| Supporting Young People Away from Violence Hear from the #PeerActionCollective as they share key research insights on how to address the root causes of violence affecting young people today. 📅 Wed 24 Sept | 4:15–5:30pm 👉 Register: bit.ly/47SGO0y
bit.ly
Supporting young people away from violence | The Young Foundation
At this exclusive showcase, the Peer Action Collective (PAC) will unveil key research findings. Join us to explore the systems and support young people need to stay safe from involvement in violence.
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The Bulwark @thebulwark.com · 12/06/2025
Gov. Pritzker: “It's wrong to deploy the National Guard and active duty Marines into an American city over the objection of local law enforcement, just to inflame a situation and create a crisis.”
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Adrian Bethune @adrianbethune.bsky.social · 08/06/2025
🧵 One of the biggest myths in education since I started teaching in 2010 is this: The knowledge-rich curriculum The myth is that knowing more will improve the quality of children's lives. It's built on the lie that knowledge = grades = good job = happiness. It's a lie.
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Matt Lent @mattlent.bsky.social · 02/06/2025
Lots of agreement on BlueSky on this, but I just can’t. There are clearly common work skills we all need, no matter our profession. School should help develop communication, team work, leadership, project planning, time keeping & basic work readiness, inc. emailing, interview skills, presenting, etc
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Matt Lent @mattlent.bsky.social · 20/05/2025
Good to be at the launch of this important report from @impetus.org.uk. ‘Compound disadvantage’ is an interesting phrase, referring to the stacking up of different challenges young people face in transitioning into work.
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Matt Lent @mattlent.bsky.social · 15/05/2025
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Emma Monk @monkemma.bsky.social · 13/04/2025
Are Muslims really banning dogs in parks? 🤔 Let’s look at this perfect example of how rage baiting works, and how disinformation spreads, sticks, and fuels division, even years after being debunked… 🧵1/22 (1/1)
Twitter post asking: Should we be told where we can walk out
dogs?
Yes or No
Above a screenshot of a news headline: 'This is an Islamic area now. Don't walk your dogs here': Police probe sign in east London park
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Matt Lent @mattlent.bsky.social · 08/04/2025
These figures are very sobering. The starkest ones are £119k pa for each young people in a YOI & 34% of 10-17 year olds reoffending. Just imagine if we took even half of that money & invested it in the young people’s training, support & employment. We’d save £££s AND massively reduce re-offending.
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Stephen Evans @stephenevans.bsky.social · 04/04/2025
What better way to start your weekend than listening to me talk about youth unemployment (half a million young people not in education, employment or training say they’ve never had a paid job) - tune in at 11.15 on Radio Five Live. learningandwork.org.uk/resources/re...
learningandwork.org.uk
Young people who are NEET – what does the data tell us?
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Impetus @impetus.org.uk · 10/03/2025
Our recent blog explores three reasons why policy and research are central to our mission: 1️⃣ Gives voice to lived experience 2️⃣ Directs our resources effectively 3️⃣ Drives systemic change 🔗 Read in full: www.impetus.org.uk/news-and-vie...
impetus.org.uk
Driving change for young people through research and policy
How and why Impetus conducts research and policy work to drive systemic change for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
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Youth Careers Collective @youthcareers.bsky.social · 07/03/2025
We've wrapped up another incredible year of the Heathrow STEM Generation Programme!
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Matt Lent @mattlent.bsky.social · 11/02/2025
Yes, nearly a million unemployed young people is a disaster for them & for the economy. Making services more relevant & accessible is vital, but it also needs to be much easier for employers to provide quality work experience, skills development & ultimately entry level jobs for those most at risk.
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Alison McGovern @allymcgovern.bsky.social · 11/02/2025
How do you best get young people who’ve missed out on that first job into a workplace where they can learn what it is to be part of a team and to really have that sense of achievement? The pandemic generation deserves a chance. www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
dailymail.co.uk
Joblessness is 'disaster' for the economy, employment minister warns
Alison McGovern said the 'pandemic generation' have missed out from not getting a first job to help them 'get into the groove of work' and warned the impact of inactivity can have a long term impact.
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Luke Tryl @luketryl.bsky.social · 08/02/2025
🧵A problem with current EDI debates is they lump together eg university outreach work to attract kids from working class backgrounds, which I suspect even most Musk loving DOGEite supports, with saying LEGO bricks are bad because they reinforce gender norms, which is nonsense
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UK Youth @ukyouth.bsky.social · 29/01/2025
🚨 Youth services have been cut by over £1 billion since 2010. New figures from YMCA reveal that local authority spending on youth services in England has dropped by 73% since 2010-11—a real-term cut of £1.2 billion. In Wales, funding has fallen by 27% (£16.6m). 🧵👇
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Caronlb @caronlb.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
Debra Alcock Tyler isn’t pulling her punches www.thirdsector.co.uk/debra-allcoc...
thirdsector.co.uk
Debra Allcock Tyler: The health secretary’s remarks have made me livid and confused
Wes Streeting’s egregious comments showed a complete lack of understanding about how the NHS is so reliant on the work of charities
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Youth Careers Collective @youthcareers.bsky.social · 27/01/2025
🌟 Are you 18-24 and based in London? 🌟 Want to make a real impact in your community? Dreaming of a career in the charity sector, education or community work? We’re recruiting for Spark! Youth Voice 📅 Apply by 1st March 2025 – don’t miss this chance to grow, connect and make a difference
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The King's Fund @thekingsfund.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
Public services need radical reform! The King's Fund and 22 other organisations are backing a call for a shift away from ‘doing to’ people and communities and towards ‘doing with’. Join our event in March to share ideas on how to make this change happen. buff.ly/3WsBOJD
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