28 October 2026 | Statement from Rylie Sweeney, Founder and CEO
Rylie Sweeney, Founder and CEO of The Insight to Impact Collective, has responded to today's Autumn Budget, reflecting on the announcements affecting young people and the importance of translating government commitments into meaningful, accessible opportunities.
The Budget includes measures relating to housing, household costs, employment and enterprise. In her response, Rylie considers how these commitments could contribute to improving opportunities for young people, and why effective implementation will be critical to their impact.
Informed by young people's perspectives
Ahead of the Budget, members of The Current, The Collective's network of young people, shared what they wanted the Chancellor to hear. Their reflections highlighted a range of interconnected priorities, including access to employment and training, affordable housing, transport, education and the financial pressures shaping their everyday lives.
These perspectives provide important context for The Collective's response and our ongoing work to examine how government decisions translate into meaningful change for young people.
Read what young people wanted the Chancellor to hear
Our response to the Autumn Budget
Responding to the Autumn Budget 2026, Rylie Sweeney, Founder and CEO of The Insight to Impact Collective, said:
"Today's Budget contains a number of commitments that reflect challenges young people have been raising with us, from the cost of living and access to housing to employment, financial security and opportunities within their communities.
"Measures to support household energy costs, further investment in social and affordable housing, and changes to minimum wage rates are all relevant to the circumstances in which young people are growing up and planning their futures. Alongside these, commitments to strengthen access to apprenticeships, support entrepreneurship and give local areas greater control over economic decisions offer opportunities worth recognising.
"However, many of these measures build on existing commitments, and their significance cannot be judged by the announcements alone. The real question is whether they will translate into meaningful improvements for young people, particularly those facing the greatest barriers.
"Through our work, young people consistently tell us that the challenges they face are interconnected. The affordability of transport can determine whether someone can access education or employment. Housing insecurity can affect their wellbeing and aspirations. Financial pressures at home can limit the choices available to them, while where they grow up can continue to shape the opportunities within their reach.
"That is why decisions about the economy cannot be separated from decisions about young people's futures. Investment in housing, transport, public services and local economies all have implications for young people, even when they are not the intended focus of a particular policy.
"As the Government moves towards further reforms and greater local decision-making, there is an opportunity to ensure that young people's experiences are reflected not only in national priorities, but in how investment and services are designed and delivered within their communities.
"Ultimately, the success of this Budget should not be measured solely by the money committed or the programmes announced. It should be measured by whether young people experience greater stability, improved access to opportunities and more confidence in their futures.
"Young people must be part of shaping those outcomes, not simply expected to benefit from decisions made on their behalf."
What happens next?
Today's Budget is one part of a wider programme of government decisions affecting young people's lives.
Over the coming days, The Insight to Impact Collective will examine the announcements in greater detail, considering what they could mean for young people, how commitments may translate into practice and the questions that remain around implementation.
We will also continue engaging with young people to understand their perspectives on the announcements and the issues they believe should remain priorities.
About The Insight to Impact Collective
The Insight to Impact Collective is a national think tank working to put young people aged 13 to 19 at the centre of the decisions that shape their lives.
Working across research, policy and practice, we bring together robust evidence, young people's experiences and practical expertise to understand the issues affecting their lives and translate that understanding into policy recommendations and improvements in services and programmes.
We work with government, public services, and partner organisations to ensure that decisions affecting young people are informed by evidence and grounded in their experiences.