The Youth Futures Foundation’s latest report on youth employment in the UK highlights significant challenges faced by young people entering the labour market. As of August 2024, approximately 12.2%, that’s 1 in 8 young people aged 16-24 are not in education, employment, or training (NEET), which translates to about 872,000 individuals, which is a substantial increase compared to three years ago.
The report emphasises that many young people find the job market increasingly difficult to navigate. Over 60% of surveyed youths believe it’s harder to secure employment now than it was a decade ago. Key barriers include a lack of skills or training, low wages in entry-level positions, and mental health issues, with nearly a third of young people reporting that mental health challenges impact their job prospects.
To combat these issues, the Youth Futures Foundation advocates for several measures, including the introduction of an Apprenticeship Guarantee to ensure that every young person has access to an apprenticeship. They also call for increased support for at risk young people in education and improved mental health services.
Our Big Conversation findings ‘Bridging the Gaps’ supports the challenges highlighted in this report. Young people today struggle with a lack of belonging, meaningful connections, and safe, welcoming community spaces. In response, WeMindTheGap’s ‘Village’ approach, with the WeConnect Hub at its heart, and our Bridge to Employment programme are designed to fill these gaps by supporting the motivation, capability, and opportunities for young people through alternative routes to employment. This is just the beginning of what we, alongside other organisations, can achieve together to support the incredible young people who have, sadly, ‘fallen through the gaps.’
Our CEO, Ali Wheeler, welcomes this report and is keen to emphasise the areas where WeMindTheGap is making a difference.
Addressing barriers to employment:
The Youth Futures Foundation report highlights critical barriers such as a lack of skills, low wages, and mental health challenges. WeMindTheGap’s Bridge to Employment Programme, supported by the WeConnect Hub and our behaviour change model, provides a holistic response to these challenges. The WeConnect Hub acts as a community hub, empowering participants by increasing their capability through access to skills training and resources, enhancing opportunity through meaningful work placements, and boosting motivation with love, care, and community support from our mentors. By adopting a trauma-informed approach, we ensure that participants are equipped with the emotional and psychological support they need to overcome challenges and succeed.
Mental health support:
Recognising that mental health is a significant barrier, as highlighted in the report, our programs integrate mental health resources into the WeConnect Hub. This support is essential for improving participants’ motivation and capability, building their resilience, and ensuring they experience a soft landing into the world of work. Through holistic care, we help young people navigate personal challenges that might otherwise hinder their employment prospects.
Enhancing employment pathways:
The report emphasises the need for expanded apprenticeship opportunities, which align closely with WeMindTheGap’s ‘Village’ approach. Our community based model brings together local businesses, mentors, and community members to offer young people meaningful work placements that build their capabilities and open up new opportunities. Central to this model is our commitment to trauma-informed approaches, ensuring that participants receive the emotional and psychological support they need to thrive. By fostering a deep sense of belonging within the ‘Village’, we not only enhance the motivation of young people to engage with these opportunities but also empower them to succeed in their chosen career paths.
Building community resilience and meaningful connections:
WeMindTheGap’s ‘Village’ approach and WeConnect Hub are crucial for building community resilience and fostering meaningful connections. The Village provides a supportive network where young people can build relationships with mentors and peers, which is critical for boosting their motivation. These connections not only help participants feel valued and supported but also provide them with the opportunity to access work placements and other resources that enhance their capabilities, but underpinned with our values, love and care.
Ali Wheeler said, ‘The combined strengths of a collaborative approach through our WeConnect Hub offer a scalable solution that can be adapted to various communities and the individual needs of young people and employers. By leveraging the power of collaboration across communities, networks of employers, and leadership around social mobility, we must lead through a systematic approach to address the complex issues facing young people today. Not one organisation or government department can work on this alone. The solutions also need to include the lived experience of young people, support them to have agency and for us to show that we are listening, supporting and addressing many of their concerns’.
You can read the report here: Youth-Employment-2024-Outlook.pdf (youthfuturesfoundation.org)
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