Speaking at a conference on early intervention yesterday (16 September), Shaks Ghosh said: "The biggest problem for me is the fractured nature of services, and the biggest fracture is the school gate
"Most organisations cover ages up to 16 or over 16, but who is bridging that gap? If we are to see change it has to come through education."
The event was also attended by Graham Allen MP, chair of an independent review into early intervention, who spoke about his forthcoming report.
"The thing I want to put into the review is that we shouldn’t just concentrate on the early years intervention," said Ghosh. "At primary school, children are learning the non-formative skills such as how to walk and play. Once they go to secondary school, they start to rationalise and you can reason with them, so teenagers are an important part of preventative work. That’s what I’m telling Graham [Allen] – think about the five-year-olds but then don’t let [the intervention] wash out."
PEF is a venture philanthropy fund that raises money from the private equity sector to support charities working with disadvantaged young people at risk of becoming Neet (not in education, employment or training). It has a broad vantage point over the sector as it provides funding to organisations that cover a wide age range.
"We have a holistic view from four to 24," said Ghosh. "We can see the big picture – let's not divide it up.
"It’s prevention, not just intervention that’s needed," Ghosh added. "We want to widen the goal posts."
