Centre for Young Lives publishes new paper, Kickstarting futures: How sport and the Premier League Foundation are supporting young people into education, employment and training

[.download]Download the paper[.download]

Nearly one million young people are not in education, employment or training (NEET), reflecting a combination of challenges including poor mental health, educational disengagement, unmet additional needs, and fragmented support systems. Our new paper, Kickstarting futures: How sport and the Premier League Foundation are supporting young people into education, employment and training, highlights how football club charities are already helping young people overcome these barriers and how they can play an even greater role in tackling the NEET crisis.

Despite the Government expanding support for young people, including the Youth Guarantee and Young Futures Hubs, as well as undertaking the ongoing Milburn Review, there is still the need to strengthen the role of trusted, community-based organisations in supporting young people before they become disengaged. Greater emphasis on early intervention, alongside stronger integration of locally embedded organisations into devolved employment, skills and youth support systems, could help create more effective path ways into learning and work.

As combined authorities and local partners take on greater responsibility for employment and skills, football club charities can contribute valuable local insight, trusted relationships and proven expertise in supporting young people facing complex barriers. Drawing on examples from across England and Wales, the paper highlights the role sport can play inbuilding confidence, raising aspirations, developing employability skills and helping more young people make successful transitions into education, training and employment.

‍