00:00Worry in Newcastle has grown over the rising tide of young people dropping out of education or work.
00:06Many city leaders now warn of a silent crisis, one that's hitting those from poorer neighbourhoods and already vulnerable groups hardest.
00:14Latest government data shows 6.9% of 16 and 17-year-olds in Newcastle are what is known as NEET, not in education, employment or training,
00:23making its rates the second highest in the North East, behind only Stockton which currently holds the top spot.
00:29Counsellors were told this week that the real battle is with those falling through the cracks.
00:33In Newcastle, 42% of young people in the Youth Justice Service are NEET, 30% of care leavers are also disengaged,
00:42and a staggering 91% of young parents aged 16 to 18 are not in education or employment as well.
00:49Robin Beveridge, the council's economic advisor, flagged region-wide structural constraints,
00:55especially the fact that control over post-16 education isn't devolved to the North East Combined Authority as a barrier to more agile responses.
01:05At a recent scrutiny meeting, Liberal Democrat councillor Greg Stone pressed for a dedicated funding stream targeted at 16 to 19-year-olds,
01:12slipping out of the system, warning governments and local MPs that the long-term social and economic costs are mounting.
01:19Labour councillor Rob Higgins added that many NEETs don't just fall through the cracks academically,
01:25some end up in the criminal justice system or struggling with deeper social issues.
01:30Since 2016, Newcastle's apprenticeship starts have nearly halved,
01:35falling from around 3,020 to just 1,540,
01:40underlying how opportunities are shrinking just at the moment they're needed the most.
01:44We'll see you next time.
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