Youth Forum

Investing in youth in the UK: a NEET solution

Whilst twenty thousand more young people are in education, employment or training in 2008 than in the previous year, statistics suggest that nearly one in ten 16 & 17 year olds is a Neet – Not in Employment, Education or Training.

To help young people make a successful transition to adulthood it is vital that they are provided with high-quality services and guidance. Many need to have access to help, advice and positive activities to help them fulfil their educational and economic potential, and business has a major stake in ensuring that young people are able to leave education ready, willing and able to work.

With reducing the number of 16- to 18-year-olds who are not in education, employment or training is the top overall priority for local areas agreements in England, this THINK:PUBLIC conference will draw on the experiences of the best providers from all sectors, to discuss the importance of reducing the numbers of young people ‘NEET’ in local communities across the country. The conference will also consider how spreading best practice in commissioning and effective competition between providers can promote the new services needed to give young people real opportunities to transform their lives, rather postponing employment problems through a cycle of low-skilled jobs.

With the focus so heavily on youth knife and gang crime, the event will set out practical steps to help deliver the opportunity offered by the government’s youth agenda to reconfigure youth services to meet user needs. With money previously managed through the Connexions programme going straight to local authorities, delegates will discuss how we can transform youth services and make them ‘tailor-made’ to the diverse needs of today’s young people, and consider the changing role of local authorities as funders and commissioners of these services..

For further information contact Nikki Insley on 020 7324 4357,
e-mail nikki.insley@neilstewartassociates.co.uk