youth unemployment – london youth intergenerational response
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Youth Unemployment – London Youth Intergenerational Response. Youth Unemployment – London Youth Intergenerational Response. Contents Understanding Youth Unemployment Introduction to the Build-it model How the project actually worked Our Learnings Shaping your project. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Youth Unemployment – London Youth Intergenerational Response
Youth Unemployment – London Youth Intergenerational Response
Contents
Understanding Youth UnemploymentIntroduction to the Build-it modelHow the project actually workedOur LearningsShaping your project
Youth Unemployment – London Youth Intergenerational Response
Traditional notion of life development Parsons (1949)
•Stability•Dependence on parents
•Institutionalised education
Childhood0-16
•Uncertainty•Finding own way in life
•Rebellion
Adolescence16-21
•Conformity•Work•Supporting a family
Adulthood21+
Youth Unemployment – London Youth Intergenerational Response
Current Research Considerations
My Research
Currently undertaking a mixed methods research project on an inner city estate in Lambeth
Preliminary Findings:
The term ‘young person’ is owned by people well into their late 20s
Many young people leave school early and/or with few relevant qualifications
The local authority do not recognise them as living in their parents home once they turn 21
Work and training options available lock young people into low paid work
Young people have mixed ambitions of wanting to earn money but not through the jobs that are available
Parents are not able to support young people through education past the age of 18 or with housing past the age of 21
People working with them are often low skilled
Youth Unemployment – London Youth Response
Emerging life development journeys for young people
Track 1
Track 2
•Stability•Dependence on parents
•Institutionalised education
Childhood
0-18
•Uncertainty•Finding own way in life
•Rebellion•More time spend in education
Youth18-30
•Conformity•Work•Supporting a family
Adulthood
30+
Childhood 0-13
Greater freedom/reliance on selfEducation less structuredEarly exposure to crimeRegular associations with the youth category
Youth 14-30 Greater forced independenceLess guidance and support from family Education curtailedPressured into finding a jobFinding ways to make ends meetHaving children
Adulthood 30+Yet to be studied?
Youth Unemployment – London Youth Response
Current Research Considerations
The term ‘young person’ is owned by people well into their late 20s
Many young people leave school early and/or with few relevant qualifications
Work and training options available lock young people into low paid work
Young people have mixed ambitions of wanting to earn money but not through the jobs that are available
Parents are not able to support young people through education past the age of 18 or with housing past the age of 21
People working with young people often have limited capital
Young people need support making links with employers and those outside their peer group
Overview
Funded by Big Lottery and delivered by London Youth and Cospa.
Enables young people (16-25) and professional trade mentors to work together to help repair and refurbish social housing in Lambeth.
Will engage 1,500 young people and 400 mentors in Lambeth over the next two years.
A successful pilot triggered two years funding from Big Lottery, as featured as part of Secret Millions on Channel 4…
We are working with local contractors to provide employment and move on opportunities to the young people on the Build-it project
Young People details
The young people are generally NEET before joining the programme, however some have previously been to college
We have targets of 1000 young people to get a qualification and 500 to get a sustained outcome (work, apprenticeship or college)
The young people will be supported throughout their time on the course by youth workers and older trades mentors
Older People details
Skilled trained older people Older people from the local area Mainly retired or semi retired older people
Progression Routes
Work experience and work trials with the main social housing contractors
Work trials aimed at leading to apprenticeships or at least 26 week paid opportunities for 2/3 of work trial or work experience placements
Build-it staff identify other work opportunities and support with applications and interview preparations
Working with the recruitment and Employment Consortium to get all participants signed up with construction recruitment agencies
Youth Unemployment – London Youth Intergenerational Response
The Idea
Young people and older people recruited from their local area Older semi retired trades people teach young people a practical trade in
their spare time Both groups of people have a greater respect and understanding for each
other Issues between older and young people in the local area subside
Youth Unemployment – London Youth Intergenerational Response
Problems
Group dynamics Older skilled tradesmen time poor Work we were asked to do required specialist skills Older people who were available didn’t always have the skills
the project needed
Youth Unemployment – London Youth Intergenerational Response
Our adaptations
Fewer young people from the immediate local area Paying older mentors with specialist skills Promote the project as job training to attract older people Secured secondments from local companies for some older
participants roles Being more creative with older people’s roles Work with local tenants associations to foster their support
Case Study
Hazel
Lived on the same estate over 40 years
Treasurer of the local TRA Has run play and youth groups
on the estate Is are retired social worker and
keen to help Offered to be the cook for the
site on her estate
Youth Unemployment – London Youth Response Our findings
There are fewer support services around for young people so the project had to adapt to deal with more complex issues
Older people can relate to younger people’s experiences Older and younger people have difficulty breaking down imagined
barriersYounger people have very few informal relationships with older
people outside their immediate family Some older people need as much support as younger people Younger people appreciate the support from older peopleThrough professionalising the older people’s role – the dynamics
changed
Your Projects
In groups think about a project that you want to deliver and answer the following:
1. What do you want to achieve from your project?2. What resources will you need?3. What benefit will an intergenerational element bring
to the people involved?
Your Projects
Now think about the following:
1. Describe one or two young people who will be taking part in the project
2. What needs would you like the older people to fulfill in their life
3. What characteristics will you need in the older people involved in the project
4. Where will you recruit the older people from