Tackling Youth Unemployment: The Way Forward
Thursday 11th March 2010
8:30 AM - 4:10 PM
Location: Central London
Despite the highest proportion of 16-18 year olds participating in education or training, the number of young people who are unemployed is likely to rise to one million by 2010. A failure to address youth unemployment could undermine social cohesion and have serious consequences for the economy. A Prince’s Trust report (April 2007) estimated the cost to the country at £3.6bn a year.
From April 2009, every young person who has not been in employment, education or training for at least 26 weeks by their 18th birthday will be fast-tracked to the intensive, Jobcentre Plus led, support and sanctions regime. They will have to prove that they are actively looking for work and engaging in work related activity - if they don’t their benefits will be stopped. If they fail to find work during the next six months, they will be referred to a specialist provider from the voluntary or private sector, who will ensure that they undertake a minimum of four weeks full time work-related activity relevant to the individual.
The government is working to reform its approach to the learning, training and support services for 14 – 19 year olds through a comprehensive strategy. This involves transferring responsibility for education and training of all young people up to the age of 18 to local authorities, the September Guarantee, Flexible New Deal, Future Jobs Fund, introduction of diplomas and a national apprenticeship scheme, and raising the school leaving age to 17 in 2013, and to 18 by 2015.
However, with the trend in youth long-term unemployment rising, this forum will offer a timely opportunity to delegates to examine the key issues that must be addressed to provide young people with the comprehensive, integrated support they need to continue in education and training and prevent them from falling into unemployment.
Created Fri 8 Jan 2010 by Victoria Head | Email to a friend