Youth Access

Youth Access responds to Select Committee on NEETs

15 December, 2009

Youth Access has responded to the call from the House of Commons Select Committee on Children, Schools and Families’ call for submissions to their enquiry on NEETs.

The Committee is looking at the effectiveness of the Government’s NEET Strategy and how best to meet the broad needs of those who are NEET, as well as looking for ways to reduce NEET numbers.

Youth Access argues that:

•    Current strategies are too careers focussed, neglecting the personal, social and legal barriers which prevent NEETS from engaging with learning and employment.

•    There is a gulf between need for and provision of targeted advice, counselling and support services for young people.

•    Mainstream and generic advice and counselling services are not accessible to young people.

•    The IAG workforce does not in the main have the necessary skills to deal adequately with non-careers issues.

•    Targeted Youth Support has been described as ‘a work in progress’ and in many local areas is more aspirational than real.

•    The focus in funded provision on the age rather than needs of those requiring support means that the needs of older young people are largely ignored.

We hope that at least some of our thinking will make it into the Select Committee report.

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