If the government wants to truly tackle the youth inactivity crisis it needs to address its key causes, particularly young people’s mental health problems, explains John Hume of People’s Health Trust.

Talking to several young people from a community organisation in North Tyneside about their ambitions and work prospects was a tough conversation. They had plenty of ambition but very little opportunity. One told me they had trained as a mechanic, done everything that was expected and passed, but there was no job at the end of it, leaving them demoralised and lacking in hope.