Newcastle Alarms Over Rising Youth Disengagement and NEET Rate

Local TV

Latest government data shows 6.9 per cent of 16- and 17-year-olds in Newcastle are ‘NEET’ not in education, employment or training, making its rate the second highest in the North East, behind only Stockton, which currently holds the top spot.

Transcript

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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