Collaborative approaches to reducing NEETs

With the end of the recession failing to stop the rise in the number of 16-24 year olds not in education, employment or training (NEET), the problem of young people who are NEET has risen up the political agenda. But with local funding for worklessness projects under threat, and wider cuts to public spending inevitable, we will need to find ways of working better to deliver enhanced outcomes at reduced costs. This makes it even more important that local partnerships share their learning, successes and challenges in tackling this crucial issue, to avert the possibility of a ‘lost generation’ where large numbers fail to get their first foot on the ladder into sustainable employment.

This seminar will look at some successful and innovative approaches being adopted across the South East. It will offer delegates an opportunity to network with colleagues, and to address and share learning around key themes, such as:

• Ensuring a strong strategic approach to the NEETs issue
• Understanding the nature and dynamics of the NEETs problem in the locality
• Understanding and engaging with partners
• Securing maximum value from the interventions being delivered at the local level

Programme

10.15 Arrival and registration

• Welcome and introduction
  Celia Goddard, Shared Intelligence

10.40 The NEET challenge in the South East
Speaker TBC, GOSE

11.00 A strategic approach to tackling NEETs
Peter Shotts, Reading BC

11.20 Workshop discussions
How do you identify the nature and dynamics of the problem in your locality?

• Which partners need to be engaged?
• What are the challenges and opportunities around data sharing?
• How can you ensure buy-in from partners?

12.10 LAA Exemplar projects: Lessons learned so far – presentations

Targeted employment support: Overcoming barriers to engagement with vulnerable groups
Rafiq Chohan, Slough BC

12.30 Lunch

13.15 LAA Exemplar projects continued, followed by Q&A

Raising young people’s aspirations and personal effectiveness: Working with key partners to identify and engage NEET youths
Peter Milford, Portsmouth

Developing young people’s leadership and enterprise skills: An integrated approach to supporting young people at risk of becoming NEET
Peter Lancaster, Young Pioneers (Rother, East Sussex)
Workshop discussions

• How can partners work together to identify and engage young people?
• What are some of the barriers to engaging young people?
• How do you ensure young people don’t fall through the gap?
• How can interventions be targeted to better serve the needs of vulnerable groups?

Closing remarks

15.00 Close

To download any of the presentations from the day please click on the links below:

Kate Cox-GOSE.pdf  5Mb
David Waggett-YPLA.pdf  173Kb
The NEET Statistical Neighbour report, March 2010 report from YPLA.pdf  499Kb
Peter Shotts-Reading.pdf  574Kb
Rafiq Chohan-Slough.pdf  212Kb
Peter Milford Portsmouth.pdf  1Mb
Young Pioneers Presentation.pdf  10Mb

The PtP report from the event can be accessed here.  198Kb

Directory of Social Change, 24 Stephenson Way, London NW1 2DP

A map is available to download map.pdf  67Kb

You can visit the website for more information http://www.dsc.org.uk/Search/ContactUs