Giving a hand up rather than a handout

The right to work

Work is not just about economic independence:

• It is central to our identity• It plays an important role in our physical and mental

health

Being out of work affects your whole life

• Confidence and self-esteem suffer• Less likely to be an active and involved citizen• More likely to live in poor housing, be victim of

crime, be in poor physical health

Unemployment creates a vicious circle which leads to dependency and fewer opportunities to work

Tomorrow’s People

• Independent employment charity• Working nationally with unemployed people• Helping overcome barriers to getting a job• 25-year track record of success • Supported over 400,000 long-term unemployed

people on their journey back into work • Pre 2011: 97% of people helped were still working

after 3 months; 76% still in work after 12 months

Special focus on vulnerable young people

• Over 1 million young people in UK aged 16-24 classed as NEET

• Young people with no skills or qualifications face huge barriers to getting a job

• Not achieved effective transition from school into work

• Suffering from poverty of aspiration and poverty of determination

• Supporting young people into jobs or training or back into education, helps get their lives back on track

What do we do?

Young Peoples Services:

• Young People’s programmes – Working it Out (WIO), In2Work, Heathfield Works, Specialist Training and Think Forward

• Providing job opportunities for those most vulnerable

• Research through Praxis – in house research facility

• Piloting innovative solutions to other social issues

• Social Enterprise and trading activities

Working It Out

• 16-week programme centred around series of ‘Community Challenges’

• Practical work experience alongside life-management skills, confidence and motivation

• Programme encourages leadership, initiative and involvement among young people who have multiple barriers

• Programmes in London, Glasgow, Newcastle, Plymouth, Brighton, Maidstone and Liverpool .

Working It Out - Maidstone

• Operating since 2009• Engaged with 87 Young People • 67 Completers (77%)• 56 Outcomes (83%)• 27 into Employment• 15 into Further Education• 8 into Training• 6 into Volunteering

• Tomorrows People continues to work with those Young People who have not yet achieved a tangible outcome.

Strength of Tomorrow’s People

• Special concern for vulnerable young people who leave school without skills or qualifications.

• Experienced at breaking down barriers that seem insurmountable

• Giving a hand up rather than a handout to help young people get and keep a job

What we want to see for young people

• Much more focus on ensuring effective transition from school into work

• Build the best journey for each young person by:

- identifying much earlier those who are at risk of failing to make the transition.

- assess vulnerable children well in advance so a detailed action plan can be delivered within the school system

- personalise and plan the ‘journey’ with each young person to

make sure individual needs are properly met

- integrate each action plan into the school day, involving

specialist providers like Tomorrow’s People where appropriate

- NEVER LET ANYONE START THEIR JOURNEY ALONE