11.03.09: Collaborating for Change

On 29th January 2009, the Private Equity Foundation (PEF), in association with the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and Innovation Exchange, organised a unique conference, “Collaborating for Change”. Hosted at UBS, it brought together leaders from business, charity and local government to forge new partnerships to tackle the key issue of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET).

The Rt Hon Beverley Hughes MP, Minister of State for Children, Young People and Families, kick started proceedings by issuing a direct challenge to attendees: to make being NEET a thing of the past. Calling the event “incredibly important and potentially incredibly powerful”, she stated that she hoped that “discussion today will input directly into the department and policy.”

A NEET Policy Manager at DCSF provided the latest update from central government on young people not in education, employment or training and this was followed by insights from event participants.

Spurred on by Beverley Hughes’ call to action and case studies presented by representatives from Fairbridge, Barnsley MBC and The Vine Trust Walsall, over 50 leaders from businesses, charities and local government were involved in identifying the principle challenges to overcoming the NEET issue and then joined workshops to come up with possible solutions. Themes ranged from funding and metrics to early intervention, building local collaboration, and providing services which young people actually want.

The event proved more than just a talking shop and generated a range of pledges and actions, covering funding, a commitment to host a seminar on impact measurement and a promise from business to look into the provision of more mentoring and work experience opportunities for disadvantaged young people. The Private Equity Foundation will continue to work with DCSF and Innovation Exchange to push forward the collaborative working and partnerships developed at the event.

Shaks Ghosh, Chief Executive of PEF, said: “18 months ago, Gordon Brown issued a direct challenge to city leaders to apply their skills to social problems and it was an obvious step for PEF to look at the area of young people out of education, training or work. As a venture philanthropy fund, bringing together the private and third sector, we felt we were in a unique position to work with government and forge new collaborations across all three strands involved in the NEET issue, with a focus on action - action that we hope will improve the life chances of young people.”

John Craig, Director of Innovation Exchange, added: “Innovation Exchange is committed to highlighting and supporting innovation in the third sector. This event showed there is a real appetite for collaboration across third sector, government and business in tackling the most complex soc

ial problems, often through new and untested approaches. We must harness and foster this energy.”

For further information please contact Rosie Davey at rosie@privateequityfoundation.org or call 020 7749 5129 / 07827 804066