By KLTV Newsdesk –

Fresh Futures calls for greater investment in education, mental health and employment support amid concerns over rising NEET numbers

Thousands of young people risk becoming a “lost generation” unless greater investment is made in education, mental health and employment support, according to Yorkshire charity Fresh Futures.

The warning comes amid growing national concern over rising numbers of young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET).

Fresh Futures, which delivers education and youth support services across Yorkshire, says it is seeing first-hand the challenges facing young people, including difficulties accessing jobs, apprenticeships and training opportunities.

The charity also says mental health, disability and social isolation are creating additional barriers for some young people seeking to build their futures.

‘Young people are not short of ambition’

Mark Farmer, Chief Executive of Fresh Futures, said the situation should concern everyone.

“The stories highlighted this week should concern us all. We are seeing increasing numbers of young people facing barriers linked to mental health, neurodiversity, social isolation and a lack of opportunities.

“The risk is that we create a lost generation of talented young people whose potential goes unrealised. Young people are not short of ambition. What many are short of is opportunity.

“At Fresh Futures, we know that when young people are given the right environment and the right support, they thrive. We see that every day through our work with young people who have often struggled in traditional education settings or faced significant barriers to employment and training.”

Supporting young people back into education

Fresh Futures points to its Post-16 provision at Brian Jackson College as an example of how targeted support can help young people who are at risk of disengaging from education.

The provision uses personalised support and smaller learning environments to help young people rebuild confidence, re-engage with learning and progress towards positive futures.

The charity also highlights its Elevate programme, which aims to tackle social isolation by creating opportunities for young people to build connections, develop confidence and strengthen their employability skills.

Calls for long-term action

Fresh Futures has welcomed recent employer-led initiatives aimed at improving access to work experience and employment opportunities for young people.

However, the charity says more long-term action is needed to address the wider challenges contributing to the rise in NEET numbers.

Mark added: “Every statistic represents a young person with talent, aspirations and potential. We need sustained investment in youth services, specialist education, mental health support and meaningful pathways into employment.

“If we are serious about tackling the NEET crisis, we need to create systems that work for all young people, particularly those facing additional challenges. The cost of doing nothing will be far greater than the cost of investing in their futures.”