One out of every eight young individuals face barriers to education and employment. This equates to almost a million potential futures being put on hold, resulting in a significant loss of young talent.
Joe’s experience serves as a prime example of the impact of initiatives like the Youth Guarantee. Through support from his local council, Joe, who was on the brink of dropping out due to anxiety, benefitted from the Youth Guarantee Trailblazer program in South Bristol.
Following participation in an employability program and a work trial at Fixx Bikes, Joe’s confidence soared, leading him back to the path of education. His success story highlights the importance of interventions like the Youth Guarantee, which have already assisted over 200 young people in the West of England since June.
To address the issue more proactively, efforts are underway to establish a robust ‘Risk of NEET Indicator’ (RONI) as part of an £820 million investment in the Youth Guarantee. This system aims to identify and support young individuals at risk before long-term consequences take hold.
Additional measures include a trial automatic enrollment in further education, the creation of nearly 300,000 new skills opportunities for those on Universal Credit, and the expansion of Youth Hubs across all local areas – offering a range of services from CV guidance to mental health support.
Recognizing the link between poverty and educational barriers, investments are being made to combat child poverty. A newly launched Child Poverty Strategy outlines plans to lift over half a million children out of poverty by 2030 by removing the two-child benefit cap, expanding free school meals, assisting with energy and childcare expenses, and ending the unlawful placement of families in B&Bs.
These initiatives, coupled with efforts to facilitate the return of children to classrooms, aim to provide every young individual with an equal chance to thrive regardless of their upbringing. It emphasizes viewing young people as the future workforce and leaders who deserve strong support from their country – embodying a tangible form of national revitalization.