Youth Contract

Introduction

Young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) have been a major focus of research and policy interest for over a decade, and this continues to be the case, due to the disproportionate effect of the economic downturn on the youth labour market and young people’s transitions into adulthood. In November 2011, the Deputy Prime Minister announced almost £1 billion of funding for a new Youth Contract (YC) to support 16-24 year olds to participate in education, training and work. This included a programme of intensive support for 16-17 year olds which aimed to offer targeted support to disengaged young people in order that they participate in education, an apprenticeship or a job with training.

Soft outcomes

An analysis of soft outcomes suggested that engagement with a key worker was crucial to increasing young people’s confidence in their ability to progress. A considerable difference on the basis of this mentoring was made to young people who were long term NEET and this was perceived as achieving major breakthroughs in their experiences. Young people had often been isolated from statutory and other forms of support before starting the YC and the programme helped them to emerge from under the radar. Approaches varied, as did distance travelled among those at risk of becoming long term NEET as well as those NEET through post-16 drop out. Those at risk of long term NEET received mentoring support over summer periods, along with assistance to apply for learning or training and financial support, which enabled their progression in the autumn. Those who dropped out of post-16 options were offered mentoring support which mapped the opportunities available to them in order that they could make decisions about which would be most suitable. All groups were grateful for a trusting and respectful relationship with a key worker. Support from key workers also enabled them to learn appropriate behaviour and build their confidence to use transport systems, deal with challenging family circumstances and to overcome other personal issues

A targeted approach

A targeted approach to policy intervention to meet the needs of the NEET group is required. The evaluation of the YC highlighted that, within the tight parameters of the national model, there emerged a segmented population of young people, with each group requiring differing degrees of support, intervention and time requirements to achieve positive EET outcomes. In light of these widely varying and multi-faceted needs of the YC participants, and the vast range of skills and experience which is required to provide appropriate support, a ‘one-size fits all’ intervention warrants re-examination. Rather, a strong case can be established for implementing a targeted intervention (based on a needs assessment), which is supported by robust intelligence and delivery agents with the skills, competence and resources to meet a diverse range of needs. In order to achieve this, two key aspects need further consideration: 1. Different levels of staffing and types of delivery agent are required to work with young people depending on their needs. For example, guidance staff working in schools may be better placed not only to identify young people who are at risk of becoming NEET at the end of Year 11, but also to provide sustained support over the summer months and beyond, in order to secure and retain their participation in EET. Outreach staff require a far greater breadth of skills, in order to engage with the hardest-to-reach and to address multiple issues which they face. This may require help with housing, benefit entitlement and family issues, alongside tackling their barriers to participation and retention in EET. Accordingly, these disparate skill sets required by delivery staff should be recognised and attention given to the development and reward of specialist skills.