MPs told about barriers to social mobility

Young people have urged the government to improve careers advice, support for the young homeless, sex education and funding for education and training.

Facing a room full of children and young people at a meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Youth Affairs last week, minister for the cabinet office Liam Byrne heard their stories of difficulties securing housing, financial barriers for those trying to return to education, and poor careers advice and relationship education.

Speaking about the government's social mobility agenda, young people said some of their basic needs were not being met.

One young person, who is living in a hostel after becoming homeless, said: "Homeless young people are supposed to be a priority for housing but some of us are living in hostels for years. When you go to the housing officer they say if you don't have a baby you are not a priority. I don't want to have a baby just to get a house."

Another young person said she was unable to go back to college because if she did it would mean that her living allowances would be stopped.

The meeting, chaired by Labour MP Natascha Engel, gave young people who have experienced challenges in these areas the chance to offer solutions to the government. Calls for better advice, support and the use of young people as role models were all ways suggested for improving services.

Addressing the meeting, Byrne said: "The reason I got the chance to go to university is knowing I had people who loved me, pushed me, picked me up and kept me going. But not all of us have this kind of backing.

"We can achieve a lot in this country, we can open up jobs to anyone, no matter what their background is, but only if we create that bridge of support from cradle to work."

The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Youth Affairs plans to invite cabinet ministers to future meetings to discuss in more depth each of the areas they identified as in need of action.

At the meeting, Byrne endorsed Prime Minister Gordon Brown's proposals that all young people should undertake at least 50 hours of community service by the age of 19.

He said this would open up a variety of opportunities for young people, which would increase their confidence and knowledge of the jobs they could do.

SOCIAL MOBILITY

What young people say must change

George: "Funding for education is limited to an age bracket of 16 to 19. What if someone has worked from 16 until they are 20 and then realises they want to go back to college?"

Toni: "The careers service should introduce successful people as role models. For the careers service to give effective advice it should be much more specific."

Bianca: "We need more information for young people with housing problems, and the service needs to be simplified."

Linda: "An outside young person should talk about sex education rather than our teachers."