The value of giving young people a chance

Last week, an International study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development found that although youth unemployment levels in the UK are down, it has become increasingly difficult for young people leaving school with fewer qualifications to find jobs.

Yes, there are more opportunities being created in the high-skills sector, while unskilled jobs are in decline, but for a significant proportion of young people, there is a clear danger that they will be left without the opportunity to work or the access to training they need to find work.  With so much focus on academia, we are in danger of marginalising further an important group of the next generation.

Both political parties are advocating Apprenticeship schemes and well they might.  I look around Beatbullying’s offices and there are a lot of young people.  We currently have 4 students doing work experience, another young man enhancing his graphic design skills on a work placement, and an apprentice delivering Beatbullying’s work into schools and communities.  And not for one minute can we underestimate the value they bring to the organisation, both in terms of ideas, enthusiasm and energy, as well as in actual output.

None of these young people don’t want to learn or don’t want a job.  They want to get on in life.  What they lack is the opportunity.  Apprenticeships can fill that gap.  They have long provided fantastic opportunities for young people traditionally wanting to learn a trade,  but now’s the time to expand these schemes into other sectors, and Beatbullying offers BB Apprenticeships in its range of employment opportunities.

BB Apprenticeships are a way for young people to earn a wage whilst learning about working with young people, working for a charity, studying for qualifications and generally starting to get to know the world of work.  They are high quality training programmes for young adults aged 16-19, who want to develop their prospects and career in the charity sector, take some responsibility, learn and have some fun.

Qualifications are important, and in some areas of employment absolutely crucial, but there is some often undervalued merit in giving young people a chance to learn skills and learn a job, while they are actually doing it.  Come to think of it, I’ve learnt more about working in Communications, and about working life in general, in the past two years, by actually doing it and seeing others do it, than I ever gained from any qualifications. 

For more information on BB Apprenticeships, look here: http://www.beatbullying.org/docs/home/apprenticeships.html

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