Lisa presents findings from ‘NEET’ research in Manchester
Mon, 30 Jul 2012 09:06:00 BST
Local Government Network interactive workshop: Anticipating the risks from the next generation
Dr Lisa Russell, researcher working on the Leverhulme ‘NEET’ research being undertaken in the School of Education and Professional Development, gave a presentation about the 'implications of the 'lost generation of unemployed youth' as part of a session that aimed to explore the effect of the economic downturn on young people. The workshop aimed to identify the implications for the youth of our country and explore how local government could mitigate the challenges ahead.
By drawing on her Leverhulme Trust funded research exploring the experiences of NEET young people, Russell made the following points in Piccadilly Place in Manchester in late July, 2012.
- Despite the governments attempt to join up services via the co-location of services such as healthcare, housing support, access to benefits and career advice, young people are far from experiencing a one-stop shop approach, rather they experience a disjointed set of support structures.
- Young people are active agents wanting to drive change, gain employment and live a 'normal' life.
- Many young people find themselves in a repetitive cycle of temporary, low paid work and/or education and training programmes that rarely go beyond level two attainment, interspersed with periods of being ‘NEET’. Young people find this churn frustrating, isolating and experience a lack of control across all spheres of their life.
- Doing anything is not better than doing nothing. What is on offer is crucial in terms of provision. Poor work, training and education experiences can have a damaging effect on young people's future life paths.
- There is a need to move away from models that blame the individual for their ‘NEET’ status and instead direct attention to the structures that impinge upon their social mobility.
- Education, training, home, family, health and work circumstances need to be considered together in order to sufficiently support ‘NEET’ young people (re-)enter work, education or training.
- Forcing young people into (unpaid) work, education and training is not the answer.
