What do Access to Industry, Catch 22, Leonard Cheshire, London Youth and the DM Thomas Foundation have in common?
Well, it might not be a surprise to learn, given this column’s title, that all were shortlisted in last year’s ERSA Employability Awards. Access to Industry was our illustrious winner, an Edinburgh-based third sector organisation delivery employability services to young offenders, but all the shortlisted entries gave ample evidence of how they were dramatically changing lives.
Runners-up were Catch 22, in recognition of the sheer scale of its impact on young people, whilst Leonard Cheshire was recognised for its programme for graduates with disabilities. DM Thomas Foundation was shortlisted for its Galvin’s Chance Programme for those at risk of crime, whilst London Youth was recognised for its Talent Match provision.
Great stuff of course, but do we really need to shine such a spotlight on such organisations and programmes in this day and age?
Well, the inclusion of Talent Match amongst the shortlisted few was important. Research by London Youth released this week indicates that we might have as many as 480,000 young people off the government radar and not counted in either the official jobless count of 12.2% or the wider figure of 790,000 young people not in education, employment or training. We know that central government doesn’t think that youth unemployment is a problem– after all, it is down from its 2011 peak and significantly lower than some of our European neighbours (though comparing ourselves to Greece of Spain never struck me as a great thing). However, if those London Youth figures are anywhere near true (and programmes elsewhere echo them), youth unemployment is a real and growing issue in this country.
Awards won’t solve that of course. But having a youth employment category helps surface the great work that exists out there to help young people not only gain work but also progress into careers. And I defy any minister, official, employer or funder not to care about this issue when they see real young people and hear the stories they have to tell.
As membership bodies, as social sector organisations, as employers, as local authorities, we need to make the case for investment in high-quality employment support for this nation’s young people. Organisations such as those we shortlist make a tremendous difference, but too many are struggling to access the funding to keep their services alive. So we must celebrate what is great; we must help young people tell their own stories, and we should shout from the rooftops that there must be more support.
The ERSA Employability Awards 2018 is now. Please click here for more information.
Kirsty McHugh is Chief Executive of ERSA
