Youth Unemployment – London Youth Intergenerational Response

Contents Understanding Youth Unemployment Introduction to the Build-it model How the project actually worked Our Learnings Shaping your project

Youth Unemployment – London Youth Intergenerational Response Traditional notion of life development Parsons (1949) Stability Dependence on parents Institutionalise d education Childhood 0-16 Uncertainty Finding own way in life Rebellion Adolescence Conformity Work Supporting a family Adulthood 21+

Youth Unemployment – London Youth Intergenerational Response Current Research Considerations My Research Currently undertaking a mixed methods research project on an inner city estate in Lambeth Preliminary Findings: The term ‘young person’ is owned by people well into their late 20s Many young people leave school early and/or with few relevant qualifications The local authority do not recognise them as living in their parents home once they turn 21 Work and training options available lock young people into low paid work Young people have mixed ambitions of wanting to earn money but not through the jobs that are available Parents are not able to support young people through education past the age of 18 or with housing past the age of 21 People working with them are often low skilled

Youth Unemployment – London Youth Response Emerging life development journeys for young people Track 1 Track 2 Stability Dependence on parents Institutionalise d education Childhood 0-18 Uncertainty Finding own way in life Rebellion More time spend in education Youth Conformity Work Supporting a family Adulthood 30+ Childhood 0-13 Greater freedom/reliance on self Education less structured Early exposure to crime Regular associations with the youth category Youth Greater forced independence Less guidance and support from family Education curtailed Pressured into finding a job Finding ways to make ends meet Having children Adulthood 30+ Yet to be studied?

Youth Unemployment – London Youth Response Current Research Considerations The term ‘young person’ is owned by people well into their late 20s Many young people leave school early and/or with few relevant qualifications Work and training options available lock young people into low paid work Young people have mixed ambitions of wanting to earn money but not through the jobs that are available Parents are not able to support young people through education past the age of 18 or with housing past the age of 21 People working with young people often have limited capital Young people need support making links with employers and those outside their peer group

Overview Funded by Big Lottery and delivered by London Youth and Cospa. Enables young people (16-25) and professional trade mentors to work together to help repair and refurbish social housing in Lambeth. Will engage 1,500 young people and 400 mentors in Lambeth over the next two years. A successful pilot triggered two years funding from Big Lottery, as featured as part of Secret Millions on Channel 4… We are working with local contractors to provide employment and move on opportunities to the young people on the Build-it project

Young People details The young people are generally NEET before joining the programme, however some have previously been to college We have targets of 1000 young people to get a qualification and 500 to get a sustained outcome (work, apprenticeship or college) The young people will be supported throughout their time on the course by youth workers and older trades mentors

Older People details Skilled trained older people Older people from the local area Mainly retired or semi retired older people

Progression Routes Work experience and work trials with the main social housing contractors Work trials aimed at leading to apprenticeships or at least 26 week paid opportunities for 2/3 of work trial or work experience placements Build-it staff identify other work opportunities and support with applications and interview preparations Working with the recruitment and Employment Consortium to get all participants signed up with construction recruitment agencies

Youth Unemployment – London Youth Intergenerational Response The Idea Young people and older people recruited from their local area Older semi retired trades people teach young people a practical trade in their spare time Both groups of people have a greater respect and understanding for each other Issues between older and young people in the local area subside

Youth Unemployment – London Youth Intergenerational Response Problems Group dynamics Older skilled tradesmen time poor Work we were asked to do required specialist skills Older people who were available didn’t always have the skills the project needed

Youth Unemployment – London Youth Intergenerational Response Our adaptations Fewer young people from the immediate local area Paying older mentors with specialist skills Promote the project as job training to attract older people Secured secondments from local companies for some older participants roles Being more creative with older people’s roles Work with local tenants associations to foster their support

Case Study Hazel Lived on the same estate over 40 years Treasurer of the local TRA Has run play and youth groups on the estate Is are retired social worker and keen to help Offered to be the cook for the site on her estate

Youth Unemployment – London Youth Response Our findings There are fewer support services around for young people so the project had to adapt to deal with more complex issues Older people can relate to younger people’s experiences Older and younger people have difficulty breaking down imagined barriers Younger people have very few informal relationships with older people outside their immediate family Some older people need as much support as younger people Younger people appreciate the support from older people Through professionalising the older people’s role – the dynamics changed

Your Projects In groups think about a project that you want to deliver and answer the following: 1.What do you want to achieve from your project? 2.What resources will you need? 3.What benefit will an intergenerational element bring to the people involved?

Your Projects Now think about the following: 1.Describe one or two young people who will be taking part in the project 2.What needs would you like the older people to fulfill in their life 3.What characteristics will you need in the older people involved in the project 4.Where will you recruit the older people from