Guinness Northern Counties has given its support to an innovative Youth Employment Commission report ‘Simple Truths’ on the complexities facing young people entering into employment.
The report is produced by Youthforia, the North West Regional Youth Forum, and is already receiving national attention, according to Housing News Today – read on for more info……
Youthforia is made up of young people age 11 to 25 from across the North West and brings together local groups such as youth councils and youth cabinets, to have a voice at a regional level. Their aim is to enable young people to work together to improve the life experiences of other young people and have a collective voice across the region. Youthforia is supported by the North West Regional Youth Work Unit and the British Youth Council; it acts to co-ordinate UK Youth Parliament in the North West.
Bi-annually Youthforia democratically elects a campaign issue based on the current problems affecting young people in the region and in 2012 members chose ‘Tackling Youth Unemployment’” as a key campaign.
They initiated the ‘Youthforia Youth Employment Commission’ (YYEC) to generate new thinking and policy ideas around youth unemployment, directly informed by young people. The Commission was established as a policy group which combines adult experts on youth unemployment, such as policy makers and employers with young people.
Adult commission members included Tracy Fishwick, director of Inclusion North West; Alex Howley, head of new initiatives at New Economy and Professor John Diamond at Edge Hill University.
The Commission report focussed on the current support offered to young people as they make the transition from education to employment and found:
- The system of support is complex and lacks cohesion.
- There are issues with quality of information, advice and guidance in schools around options.
- There are also barriers preventing employers from becoming more engaged and supporting better choices.
The Commission recommends the creation of a single minister or champion for youth employment and better co-ordination of support systems in schools and colleges based on the needs of young people and linked to employers.
Guinness Northern Counties’ Commission member Ian Simpson, head of access to work, said: “It has been a pleasure to work with the Youthforia Commission. The young people presented wholly positive contributions and displayed talent, determination and optimism for their futures – it’s up to us professionals and policy makers to meet the challenge and not let them down. The meetings were dynamic and really challenged my perceptions about young people’s experience from school to employment. I hope we can work together in future.”
Liz Harding, chief executive of the North West Regional Youth Work Unit said: ”Having input from housing association professionals that are expert in both regeneration and employment as part of the Commission brought tremendous benefit. Here were adults like Ian Simpson, who are committed to improving employment opportunities brought into direct contact with young people.
“This enabled conversations to happen, challenges and thinking in a way that educated all the members of the YYEC. Learning took place for all Commission members but for Youthforia, having knowledgeable people like Ian involved has enabled us to develop realistic and sensible recommendations. This innovative way of working has given the YYEC and Youthforia’s campaign greater credibility; it is a way of working that we want to continue.”