Barnardo's: 'Prioritise disadvantaged young people for training'

The children's charity says more must be done to ensure the most marginalised young people are able to meet the entry requirements for good vocational training courses.

Barnardo’s chief executive Javed Khan said: “Vulnerable young people such as care leavers and those with disabilities are all too often locked into a tragic cycle of worklessness, because they lack the support or qualifications to get into the jobs market.

"We are asking politicians to pull out the stops in ensuring that training and job schemes prioritise, not exclude, the most marginalised youngsters."

At a recent parliamentary event run by Barnardo’s to raise the issue, children and families minister Edward Timpson said: "As someone who grew up as part of a large foster family, I know the importance of consistent tailored support which helps vulnerable young people get on and succeed in life.

“It’s why we’ve changed the rules so young people can stay with their foster family until the age of 21, improved financial support so those leaving care can put down their first month’s rent, and are funding schemes that help get vulnerable young people on the career ladder.

“But I will always be the first to say that there’s more to do to ensure all young people – no matter what their starting point in life – are given the help they need to reach their potential, an ambition I know that is shared by Barnardo’s whom I look to continue working with.”

Data gathered by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills into the total number of people participating in apprenticeships found that 356,900 were undertaken by people over the age of 25 – twice as many as those aged 16- to 19-years-old, which stands at 185,800.

Analysis by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development also found that there is an extremely high skills gap between young people in work and young people not in work, education or training.