Youth sector warns against labelling young people as 'lost causes'

Rosie Ferguson, chief executive of London Youth, was among senior figures who decided to speak out after The Prince’s Trust’s annual Youth Index, published last week, revealed that a third of young people who have been out of work for a long time have contemplated suicide.

While accepting the findings of the report, she hit out at how young people were being portrayed in the media as a result and urged more positive conversations about young people and what they have to offer.

Ferguson said: "The situation facing young people looking for work at the moment is really tough, and for many who don't have the right support and opportunity it can feel pretty hopeless.

"I'm pleased that The Prince's Trust have highlighted this and opened a debate. It is particularly important that they have highlighted the role that mental health issues play in perpetuating young people's unemployed status.

"Yet, despite recognising the picture that was painted by the data, I was frustrated by the way this was being reported, because there is a risk that young people are seen as lost causes if the debate gets framed in this way.

"We need to raise awareness of the challenges facing young people but by reporting like this we risk perpetuating stereotypes of young people to mainstream audiences and making more young people feel even more isolated and hopeless."