Unemployed young people aren’t a “stubborn underclass”, they just need a break

avatar By Hannah 15th June 11


At a time of record levels of youth unemployment, v has been working with some clever folk at the think-tank Demos to investigate what can be done to help the growing numbers of young people who are not in education, employment or training (who are often referred to as “NEETs”).

Experience Required argues that successive governments have totally misunderstood these young people. Traditionally they have often regarded NEETs as one hard-to-reach group – a ‘stubborn underclass’ who are socially excluded. In fact, the vast majority of NEETs are simply normal young people moving in and out of education and employment, who would benefit from a chance to prove what they can do.

As part of this work, the team went round the country to meet some young people who were NEET but have achieved more than they or anyone else thought possible through long-term volunteering. People like Nazma, a young Muslim girl, who took on a placement in the male-dominated area of construction, and shrugged it off as “a bit of a challenge”. Or Alex, who returned to the school she got kicked out of (where the teachers “probably didn’t really like me”) to volunteer her time as a learning support assistant. I certainly didn’t have guts to face up to situations like that when I was 17. Did you?

If you think you know “NEETs”, this video might just make you think again. v and DEMOS are now calling for a full-time volunteering programme at national level to help young people get the experience they need to succeed in the jobs market. Watch the video and let us know if you agree – especially if you are, or were, a “NEET”.

  • http://www.gb.cisv.org/ Helen Scott

    I think to say that none of these NEETs are in fact the stereotypical ‘stubborn underclass’ would be naive. However I do believe that the majority do not fall into this category. The vicious cycle of ‘experience needed’ in order to get a job which would in effect provide this experience is a tough one.

    I am 100% for full-time volunteering positions, as I personally have gained just as many skills through volunteering as through paid work. Volunteering often opens more doors to learn than reality can, which is not always a good thing. If there was more of a culture of volunteering than at present, things could change. German for example has a year of ‘civil service’ which is obligatory after school. This can involved working with the elderly, environmental schemes or anything you can possible imagine. I think this would be a fantastic system to introduce into our country.

    This is a complicated matter, but I think the underpriveledged ‘NEETs’ do have a harder time than the priviledged. This is clear.

    • http://vinspired.com Hannah

      I agree that we can definitely learn from international models. I recently met someone from Ghana where they have compulsory “national service” volunteering for graduates – which for many young people might be preferable to being saddled with big debts. That way, they pay their “debt” by helping others for a year, and get experience of work while they’re doing it.
      http://icicp2.org/ycpworldwide2010/africa/ghana/

      Do you think something like that would work here?

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