One out of every eight young individuals face barriers to education and employment. This equates to nearly a million potential futures put on hold, representing a significant loss of young talent.
Joe* narrowly escaped becoming one of these statistics. At 17 years old, battling anxiety and teetering on the brink of dropping out, he found assistance from his local council that connected him with the Youth Guarantee Trailblazer program in South Bristol.
Following an employability course and a work experience opportunity at Fixx Bikes, Joe’s self-assurance blossomed, leading him back to the path of education.
Joe’s experience highlights the importance of initiatives like the Youth Guarantee. Since June, over 200 young individuals in the West of England have benefited from tailored support to transform their prospects.
Recognizing the necessity for early intervention, a strengthened ‘Risk of NEET Indicator’ (RONI) is being established as part of an £820 million investment in the Youth Guarantee program. This indicator will act as an early detection system to identify young people who may require assistance before facing long-term setbacks.
Efforts are underway to introduce automatic enrollment in further education, generating close to 300,000 new skill development opportunities for those on Universal Credit. Additionally, the expansion of Youth Hubs to every local community, with more than 360 centers providing a range of services from CV guidance to mental health support, is in progress.
Addressing the root cause, combating poverty is a crucial aspect of the solution. A Child Poverty Strategy recently launched aims to uplift over half a million children out of poverty by 2030 through measures such as abolishing the two-child benefit cap, extending free school meal provisions, aiding families with energy and childcare expenses, as well as discontinuing the improper placement of families with children in B&Bs – actions long advocated for by Mirror readers.
Complemented by initiatives to reintegrate children into classrooms, these combined efforts are designed to offer every child, regardless of their upbringing, a fair chance at success. It emphasizes viewing young individuals as the workforce and leaders of tomorrow who merit a supportive nation. This represents tangible progress towards national revitalization.