Research
Currently there are around 1,000,000 16-24 year olds in England classified as NEET (15% of the cohort) [1].
This is not just an issue for the UK – in the EU around 400,000 or 18% of 15-24 year olds have been unemployed for between 2-4 years [2]. It is likely that most if not all of these young people would have exhibited signs of potential risk early on.
The Private Equity Foundation invests in research to increase understanding of what works and what helps support more young people to reach their full potential.
Our research partnerships also help us find highly effective interventions in the UK and abroad that can support both those young people at risk of becoming and those who are not in education, employment or training.
Since 2006 PEF has invested in the following research projects focused around several key themes:
Shining a light on the complexity of the NEET issue:
- IPPR – Youth Tracker – brought together evidence, statistics and opinions from experts on the issue of NEETs in the recession in four short reports.
- Matrix – Wasted Potential – explained that there were a variety of reasons for young people becoming NEET. Researchers found that some choose to opt out by taking a gap year, others struggled academically (often with basic skills), others face major obstacles such as homelessness, substance abuse or are carers and others, for example, due to the recession have not been able to find education, training or employment opportunities.
National Civic Service
- Demos’ – Service Nation – outlined a lifecycle approach to civic service that would provide assistance to communities as well as improve the skills of young people.
Early Intervention and Educational Disengagement
- Demos’ – Ex Curricula – highlighted that one in 10 children start primary school without the skills to learn. Ex-Curricula sets out recommendations in the areas of parenting and early years provision for 0-5 years, behaviour and exclusion, special educational needs and spreading evidence-based, preventative practice in schools. The Private Equity Foundation’s 2010 Conference – “ Intervening before it’s too late” focused on this report.
If you have a research proposal that is focused on how to tackle the NEET issue or related to supporting children and young people please contact us –
info@privateequityfoundation.org
As a Foundation that blends on the ground investment experience with our in-depth research programme, PEF has a unique perspective on how to support disadvantaged children and young people. In 2010 the Private Equity Foundation was asked to give evidence to the Select Committee for Children, Schools and Families as part of their inquiry into NEETs. PEF also regularly contributes to consultations and policy discussions relating to social policy.
(Please click on research papers listed in this section for further reading)
[1] DCSF, NEET Quarterly Statistics, February 2010.
[2] Eurostat, Statistics in focus, March 2010.
Currently there are around 1,000,000 16-24 year olds in England classified as NEET (15% of the cohort) [1].
This is not just an issue for the UK – in the EU around 400,000 or 18% of 15-24 year olds have been unemployed for between 2-4 years [2]. It is likely that most if not all of these young people would have exhibited signs of potential risk early on.
The Private Equity Foundation invests in research to increase understanding of what works and what helps support more young people to reach their full potential.
Our research partnerships also help us find highly effective interventions in the UK and abroad that can support both those young people at risk of becoming and those who are not in education, employment or training.
Since 2006 PEF has invested in the following research projects focused around several key themes:
Shining a light on the complexity of the NEET issue: