Hidden talents Supporting the most disengaged young people into employment, education and training
In this paper we argue for the need to join up and personalise support for the most disengaged young people, and those at risk of longer term disengagement, to participate more effectively in work, learning and volunteering.
Beneath the headline figures are a group of around 260,000 young people entrenched in periods of long-term disengagement. The numbers have been growing for some time, but have more than doubled since 2008.
Clearly some national approaches work for young people who experience short-term periods of disengagement, those closest to employment, but too many national schemes have tended to address spikes in youth unemployment, without effectively reaching this most vulnerable group.
The current offer to young people is awash with different national strategies, age boundaries and requirements. Young people between 13 and 24 years old can receive support from at least eight national organisations, funding 33 different funds and schemes, spanning 13 different age groups and – not including school funding – at a cost of over £15 billion each year.
This complex picture plays out differently around young people too. For instance a 16 year old with one child studying full time can potentially receive support from 10 schemes, with responsibility spanning five government departments. While an 18 year old not in employment, education and training can receive support from nine schemes, and only two being in common with the 16 year old.
For decades councils have witnessed schemes scatter provision across their areas, with little scope for local partners to shape, quality assure, or bring together support around individuals, or to connect this support with local jobs. This is crucial at a time when opportunities for young people are squeezed particularly hard. Without it, there is a risk that support will not reach the young people that need it most.
Councils play a pivotal role; they have a duty to protect the most vulnerable, to ensure all young people have a quality set of opportunities as part of raising the compulsory participation age and, together with local partners, are perfectly placed to reconnect education and skills provision with labour markets.
We want to use these opportunities to strike a new deal with young people, which is based on the simple principles that services must respond to the needs of individuals in a joined-up way; reflect the opportunities available in their area, and; give a greater voice to young people over services for them.
Published : 31st March 2012
Publisher : Local Government Association [ More From This Publisher ]
Rights : Local Government Association
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