Impetus responds to speech by Andy Burnham MP

“Young people in the UK are faced with a geographically uneven playing field; we know that where you grow up too often determines where you end up.

Our Youth Jobs Gap research series has highlighted that young people from disadvantaged backgrounds living in particular areas of the North or the Midlands have a far higher likelihood of ending up not in education, employment or training (NEET). For example, a young person who grows up in Hartlepool and is eligible for pupil premium is 146% more likely to be NEET compared with the average.

This is not inevitable, and with the right support in place we know that these young people can thrive. So we support Andy Burnham’s commitment to level the playing field.

For disadvantaged young people, support must be offered at the earliest opportunity, starting in school. From there, evidence shows that interventions combining targeted employment skills with holistic wraparound support can make a real difference for young people who are NEET.

Through the work of the brilliant non-profits we support, we see the impact that localised, grassroots organisations can have on the prospects and futures of the young people that need it most.”