*Press Release from Association of Education and Learning Providers issued 27th June 2016*
Britain’s leading campaigning and membership organisation dedicated to tackling youth unemployment, Youth Employment UK (YEUK), has become the 10th member of AELP’s Patron scheme. Youth Employment UK was set up to support all of those working in the youth employment space, including young people who we feel should be at the heart of the work taking place in this sector. Its key objectives are:
- To provide a platform for young people to have a voice on youth employment issues that affect them
- To empower young people to use the information and inspiration available to them and to develop their skills and networks to help them progress
- To support organisations working in the youth employment space by providing an impartial platform for them to communicate, share best practice and network
- To campaign and influence policy on the issues and barriers that affect its members.
YEUK has developed strong links with some of Britain’s leading employers such as Santander, IFDS and McDonald’s. It provides the secretariat for the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Youth Employment, a very active group which meets monthly to discuss the issues of youth employment.
YEUK Community and Young Members are all invited to attend these meetings. YEUK also works closely with several government departments particularly DWP and BIS where YEUK has been instrumental in the Work Experience and Get in Go Far campaigns. Its CEO also sits on a number of expert panels which include two national sub-committees for the European Social Fund.
YEUK and AELP have worked closely together since YEUK’s inception on a shared agenda to reduce youth unemployment and promote high quality vocational learning options. Becoming an AELP Patron is the latest step in YEUK forging an even closer partnership. The AELP Patrons’ Scheme is an initiative aimed at all AELP members who want to have a more prominent profile within the Association that represents providers who deliver apprenticeships, traineeships and employment programmes. As a Patron, organisations have the opportunity to raise and project their corporate profile to the 780+ strong AELP membership base. Participation in the Patrons’ Scheme is limited to 15 organisations at any one time.
Press Release 27/06/2016 2 Welcoming the announcement at today’s AELP National Conference, sponsored by OCR, AELP CEO Mark Dawe said:
‘In a very short space of time, Youth Employment UK has established itself as an influential opinionformer in government circles to ensure that the voice of young people is properly heard when key programmes are subject to major reform. With 865,000 young people still not in employment, education or training (NEET), our two organisations share a passion to get more of them into sustainable jobs with the right skills and this new Patron agreement will help build links between YEUK and our members supporting young people fulfil their aspirations across the country. With programmes being devolved, I would urge AELP members to work with YEUK and its Young Members to get involved in discussions on future local delivery.’
YEUK chief executive Laura-Jane Rawlings said:
‘Right from the start, AELP has been very active in its support of YEUK’s aims and we have also seen the results that AELP has achieved for its own members by being a highly effective voice for training providers. We have been able to support key pieces of AELP research by providing case studies and opinion from our young members. As YEUK is now a Patron, I look forward to meeting more of AELP’s members and introducing them to our own inspiring Community and Young Members.’
YEUK will be exhibiting at the AELP National Conference in London on 27-28 June and YEUK’s Rhiannon Wilson will be addressing delegates on how volunteering can develop behaviors and skills of young people.
ENDS
Contact Aidan Relf on 07710 305182 Notes to editors: 1. About the two organisations More information about YEUK is available here: https://www.youthemployment.org.uk/about-us/ Information about AELP is available here: http://www.aelp.org.uk/about/ 27 June 2016 | E: Enquiries: enquiries@aelp.org.uk | W: Web: www.aelp.org.uk
