Alan Milburn has listened

Alan Milburn has listened.

This week’s interim report openly acknowledges the ‘perfect storm’ our young people face – lack of opportunity, systems not fit for purpose, and a rise in long-term mental and physical health issues not addressed early enough.

However, I believe the most important thing it has done is to dispel any myth that this generation doesn’t want to work – by evidencing the hundreds of thousands of young people who want to work but face frustration in accessing it.

The stark acknowledgment that this is a moral crisis, and that the ‘great British promise’ that the next generation will be able to do better is being broken should be seen as a rallying call for us all.

It must set in motion a vital shift in how we go forward from here.

How early intervention and data sharing makes the difference

We especially welcome the amount of consideration given to early identification and intervention – with the report powerfully exposing how prevention has been cut at every level and, in its place crisis [over] spending that manages the consequences with vastly reduced impact. We see this every day on the frontline.

But we also see the life-changing power of what can happen when we do get to work with a young person early; when we make connections with other services that together meet a young person’s individual needs and enable them to truly thrive. And, we know from experience, that to make this approach work to its full potential, the sharing of good quality data, as early as possible, is key.

Scaling this up should not be optional.      

Careers services have a key role to play in any system reset

The statistic that the government spends 25 times as much on benefits for young people than it does on supporting them into work is startling – and one that I hope makes people sit up and realise what happens when we don’t invest in early professional careers support and guidance services, and the added value we bring.

I genuinely believe we can’t underestimate the skills that careers professionals will bring to any full system reset. We’re hardwired to work collaboratively and navigate wider networks, while also developing a deep understanding of the needs of each person we support, for the best outcome. The Milburn report highlights well the fact that every young person is individual, and the system should be flexible enough to be designed around the person.

The issue of young people’s work readiness and workplace awareness also brings to the forefront the need for qualified careers professionals to play an even bigger role in schools and communities, to help young people build and interpret those skills, and in creating opportunities for workplace exposure and work experience at a young age.

While the interim report is the diagnosis, we look forward in the recommendations to even more recognition of the power of early, face-to-face, one-to-one support from a trusted adult to change the direction of many young people’s lives; helping them to achieve milestones,, navigate systems and overcome the adversity that we know they are facing.

This report is a line in the sand – it is an evidenced acknowledgment of what our young people have to contend with, through no fault of their own.

Now, we look to the reforms, which can’t come soon enough.

At the heart of any change should be accountability to our young people.

And this could be exemplified through measures including a set of national benchmarks for NEET support services, akin to the Gatsby Benchmarks in schools – ensuring quality and consistent support for all young people.

It is our duty to stand up for our young people.

It is our duty to give them the opportunities many of us have had.

It is our duty to enable them to succeed.      

We’re ready to work closely with young people, the Government, employers, other charities, health, councils to drive real, sustainable change for generations to come.  

Making change – what Career Connect advocates for

At Career Connect we’ll continue to advocate for all young people to have access to:

• Early identification of risk of NEET, and intervention from Year 9 or earlier – supported by improved data sharing and quality
• Targeted, tailored support, designed with young people themselves
• Dedicated support at key transition points such as post-16 or post-18 – especially for young people with additional needs
• National benchmarks for NEET support services, akin to the Gatsby Benchmarks in schools – ensuring quality and consistency in the support all young people receive.