We do

Caireen and Ruth worked alongside colleagues from Private Equity Foundation, DCSF and Innovation Exchange to deliver an inspiring event today.

The morning contributions from Rt Hon Beverley Hughes, Ramez Sousou (PEF), Kevin Davies (Vine Trust, Walsall), Rick Lohan (Barnsley), and Andrew Purvis and Cherene Dixon (Fairbridge) gave real food for thought. During the afternoon participants came together to collectively identify and problem-solve some of the really difficult challenges left to solve in support NEET young people more effectively. The overwhelming feeling was a desire for more focused opportunities for business, 3rd sector and government to work together on this and other key social challenges.

View the event 'report' we produced Download file

------------

We're working with Innovation Exchange, the Private Equity Foundation (PEF) and DCSF to design and deliver a unique event in January 2009 which will bring together senior leaders from business, the third sector and local government to design new and powerful ways of supporting young people not in education, employment or training (NEET).

The event will take the form of a focused workshop for around 50 selected senior leaders. It will provide opportunities to carefully consider the following key issues:

• Apprenticeships – Many NEET young people want to gain practical skills through a Work Based Learning option, such as the Apprenticeship. How can we engage employers better and encourage them to offer these opportunities for young people?
• Personalised provision - Evidence shows that the most disengaged young people need tailored provision to help meet their needs. How can we ensure that young people aged 16-19 receive the personalised approach in the most cost effective way possible?
• Roles and Responsibilities - Supporting NEET young people is no single organisation's direct responsibility. How can we find ways to ensure that there are clear roles and responsibilities in every area with all partners working together to support these young people?
• Information, Advice and Guidance - All young people need the best possible Information Advice and Guidance from an early age to ensure that they can make informed decisions about their choice of how to participate. What more can we do to ensure that young people receive high quality advice from a range of different sources?

The workshop will provide opportunities to hear the latest from central government on these issues, with inputs from Beverley Hughes and the DCSF NEET policy team, and to hear from practitioners across all three sectors that are already making a positive impact in these areas. Most importantly, there will be significant opportunity to work collaboratively to consider how existing good work can be better supported and what new, innovative approaches to these issues might look like.

The ultimate aim of the event? To create new partnerships across business, the third sector and local government. Partnerships will focus on action – action that we hope will improve the life chances of young people.