News Insight: CYP Now Generation Neet debate -- Politicians and young people debate Neet predicament

Reducing the number of young people not in employment, education or training (Neet) will be a burning issue in what is set to be one of the most closely contested elections in decades.

There are now 895,000 16- to 24-year-old Neets in England. While the figure has dropped slightly since it nearly hit the one million mark at the end of last year, 15 per cent of this age group remain unemployed and disengaged.

Last week, CYP Now's event, Generation Neet, examined solutions to the problem, and launched research on the issues facing individuals who are Neet.

Readers submitted questions to a panel of politicians and experts while a youth panel fed in their views, sparking a lively and heated debate.

Do you think Jobcentre Plus is doing enough to get young people back into employment?

Adam Williams, project participation officer, National Youth Agency

Jobcentre Plus came under fire for failing to help young people into work or training in research conducted for CYP Now.

Amy Kirkman, 20, backed this up, saying: "When I went to Jobcentre I was told I couldn't go on work experience for a week, because it would prevent me searching for a job."

Ghosh described dealing with the organisation as "frustrating". "I have been in dialogue with Jobcentre Plus to see if they could broker full-time volunteering opportunities for young people," she explained. "The answer that came back was fundamentally no."

She claimed voluntary organisations would be better at brokering work and training opportunities.

If government reshaped children and young people's services to cover all young people up to the age of 25, young people would no longer have to deal with Jobcentres, suggested Blacke.

But Wright claimed the service is getting better: "My big concern was that Jobcentre Plus and Connexions weren't talking to each other. I think that's improving a lot now."

What should be done to improve provision for young people who want to get into work-based training but have few or no qualifications or have not been on benefits?

Zoe Fonteyn, youth operations manager, Brathay Hall

To get into work-based training young people are often required to have Level 1 or 2 qualifications or to have claimed Jobseeker's Allowance for a minimum period.

Simmonds suggested that government could help solve this problem by making it easier for businesses to take on apprentices, such as offering incentives or additional support to employers and reducing the bureaucracy associated with taking on a trainee.

The government's 14 to 19 reforms present an opportunity for the voluntary sector to get more involved with providing accredited training, Blacke claimed.

"A lot of young people don't meet the criteria for starting an apprenticeship," she admitted. "In the youth sector, we've got to deliver qualifications that fit in with Foundation Learning."

What role should schools be playing in preventing young people from becoming Neet, how can this be encouraged and where should the funding come from?

Mohammed Hye, Audit Commission

The quality of careers advice and guidance has been under the political spotlight for some time. CYP Now's Neets research found almost half of young people thought poor careers advice had contributed to them being out of work.

Wright admitted that Connexions provision has been "patchy". But schools can make a big difference, he claimed: "The role of personal tutors is really important. They can direct young people to good information, advice and guidance."

Simmonds suggested that schools should play an even bigger role in providing such guidance: "I think all schools should give young people some training and support in how to sell themselves on the jobs market."

Marie-Louise Annan, 23, argued that teachers should also give careers advice.

But Blacke disagreed: "The job of teachers is to teach. But the role of the school is to be a one-stop-shop for young people."

Williams warned that teachers might have vested interests when advising young people to take more academic options. "Good advice is impartial and that can't always be given in the school," he said.

Do you think raising the compulsory age of participation to 18 will solve the issue of young people becoming Neet?

Jennifer Matthews, Beatbullying

The compulsory participation age is set be raised to 17 in 2013 and 18 in 2015, as part of the Education and Skills Act 2008. But young people at the debate were united in saying this is not necessary.

The Lib Dems' Williams claimed young people should be encouraged to stay on, not forced.

"The current system of compulsory provision fails a lot of young people at 16. Compelling people to stay on for another two years when they've already had a miserable experience isn't going to crack the problem," he warned.

But Wright argued the 14 to 19 reforms would provide suitable options for all young people.

"In the modern age staying on in some degree of education or training to 18 will really help individuals and the economic prospects of our country," he said. "We need to make sure that we have a personalised, flexible offer that engages young people so they don't want to leave at 16."

Young people would choose to stay on if provision improves, Ghosh said: "The most important thing is that we provide compelling offers."

What prevention strategies would the panel like to see put in place and by whom to prevent young people becoming Neet in the first place?

Carol Jackson, senior associate, The Young Foundation

The whole panel agreed that early intervention is key to preventing young people becoming Neet.

Simmonds claimed schools should take the lead: "It is important that guidance, advice and support services must be mainstreamed in schools."

Ghosh suggested intervention is needed in the early years to make a real difference: "It is possible to identify very early on in a child's life is they have a propensity to get into trouble. If we know that, we can deal with it."

The right learning offer, comprising vocational and academic options, is vital, Williams said. Wright advocated personalised flexible routes in schools and colleges, and targeted early intervention from the early years up.

Youth services should be put on a statutory footing, Blacke warned: "There is a statutory basis for positive activities but it's not strong enough."

THE QUESTION TIME PANEL

• Iain Wright, minister for apprenticeships and 14 to 19 reform
• David Simmonds, Conservative, Local Government Association and deputy leader, Hillingdon Council
• Stephen Williams, Liberal Democrat spokesman for innovation, universities and skills
• Fiona Blacke, chief executive, National Youth Agency
• Shaks Ghosh, chief executive, Private Equity Foundation
• Ravi Chandiramani, editor, Children & Young People Now (chair)

NEET RESEARCH HOW YOUNG PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT THEIR SITUATION

The economic downturn is preventing young people from finding employment, according to 60 per cent of Neets, a study commissioned by CYP Now has found.

The study, carried out by QA Research, questioned 180 Neets from across England through a survey and focus groups, in a bid to appreciate the challenges facing young Neets today.

Almost half of respondents believe bad careers advice, poor information from Jobcentre Plus and a lack of work experience is also contributing to them being out of employment or training.

Jobcentre criticisms

Nearly 30 per cent feel they lack practical skills, a quarter say poor qualifications are a serious barrier to employment and a fifth believe the cost of transport stops them finding a job.

In QA's focus groups, many young people blamed the credit crunch. But others claimed employers favour economic migrants.

"It's 14 months since I last worked," one Neet boy explained. "I think it's crap when all Polish and that are getting jobs. I got laid off and six Polish people got taken on by the same company a week after."

These young people insisted they were not racist.

"I aren't a racist but the way I see it they get cars and get the jobs straight away," one girl said. "It winds me up when other people are getting jobs and we are not."

Jobcentre Plus was criticised heavily in the focus group sessions.

A young woman described feeling belittled by Jobcentre Plus staff: "When you go to a Jobcentre, they all look straight at you. I knew I wouldn't get a job but I wanted to go on courses, and they laughed."

Policy options

QA also questioned young people about political policies targeted at Neets. Respondents were shown three policies and asked to rate them in order of effectiveness. The young people were not told that Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats recently suggested each of these policies.

According to 57 per cent of respondents the most effective policy was Labour's pledge to guarantee a job, training or work placement to young people after six months unemployed. But only 23 per cent thought the Liberal Democrats' similar three-month promise was the best. Just 20 per cent backed the Conservative Party's plans to set up a £100m fund to train Neets.

POLICY POLL

Response of 117 young people aged 16 to 24 when asked: "How effective do you think each of these policies would be in helping young people find employment?"

Labour Party A guaranteed job, training or work placement for all 18-to 24-year-olds unemployed for six months

Liberal Democrats No one under the age of 24 will claim Jobseeker's Allowance beyond three months without a right of access to training, work experience or support

Conservative Party A £100m fund for training aimed at young people who are Neet. Training will not have to lead directly to Skills for Life, Level 2 or Level 3 qualifications

Most effective
Labour 57%
Lib Dems 23%
Conservative 20%

Second most effective
Labour 33%
Lib Dems 39%
Conservative 27%

Least effective
Labour 9%
Lib Dems 38%
Conservative 53%

Source: QA Research; respondents were not informed that each of these policies were recently put forward by the political parties above