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Burnham calls for renewed youth services and support to tackle NEET rise
Andy Burnham argues that the rise in young people not in education, employment or training reflects political failures, including years of cuts to childhood and youth services. He says the consequences are both economic and moral, and that reducing welfare spending through benefit cuts would worsen poverty and pressure on public services.
Burnham says Alan Milburn’s forthcoming review of young people and work should prompt a rethink of how the state supports children from early years through adulthood. His proposed “whole-childhood” approach includes earlier help with wider needs such as mental health, and giving technical education equal standing with academic routes. The article says about one million 16- to 24-year-olds are NEET and that the welfare bill rose by £114bn under the Conservatives.
In short
- Burnham blames political choices for the youth NEET crisis.
- He calls for earlier support throughout childhood.
- He backs equal value for technical and academic education.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Burnham’s case is that rising numbers of young people outside education, work or training reflect years of underinvestment in childhood and youth services, and that early, joined-up support could prevent difficulties becoming more entrenched. Treating technical education as equally valuable and addressing needs such as mental health may widen routes into work, while cutting benefits could deepen hardship and shift costs on to other public services.
The case against
A more cautious case is that expanded early-years, youth and mental-health provision would require substantial public spending, and its effect on NEET numbers may be uncertain or take years to assess. With welfare costs rising, policymakers may argue that support should be better targeted and paired with measures that strengthen incentives and accountability, rather than assume that reversing service cuts alone will address the varied reasons young people are out of work or training.
Explained simply
NEET is a term for young people who are not in education, employment or training. It covers people in different circumstances, including those looking for work and those who may need support with health or other difficulties.
Andy Burnham is the mayor of Greater Manchester and a senior Labour politician. Alan Milburn, a former Labour health secretary, is due to review young people’s routes into work; the debate concerns how schools, training, health and youth services can help young people move into adult life.
The issue matters because being outside education, work or training can affect young people’s prospects and the wider economy. It also raises questions about the role of public services and welfare support, and how academic and technical education are valued.
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by The Guardian as “The crisis facing Britain’s young people is politicians’ fault. To fix it, we need a generational response | Andy Burnham”.