8:50am Monday 8th February 2010
By Lauren Pyrah
ALMOST 20,000 of the North-East’s unemployed young people are so badly off they have been forced to cut back on essentials including food and heating, a study has revealed.
More than 22,500 in the region fear they will never have enough money to provide for themselves or their children, according to the largest-ever UK study of young people not in employment, education or training (Neets).
The report, by the Prince’s Trust and Citi Foundation, warns that thousands of future nurses, teachers and plumbers could be lost if the UK fails to help unemployed young people.
According to the study, the region could miss out on 2,000 doctors and nurses, 4,000 teachers and 500 chefs if young people are unable to fulfil their career aspirations.
The YouGov research, based on interviews with more than 1,000 16 to 24-yearold Neets nationally, suggests that while the majority want to work, the daily struggles they face make it harder to find a job.
Nearly half of North-East Neets do not have enough money to buy smart clothes for job interviews.
The study found those who were unemployed for more than six months were twice as likely to fear that they “will never amount to anything”, and three times as likely to believe that they don’t have any skills or talents.
Jasmine Mudd, 20, from Redcar, east Cleveland, grew up dreaming about working with people with learning disabilities, but got into difficulties when she failed her first year in her social work degree at university and she was forced to leave the course to find work. She said: “I completely gave up on myself. I felt like I’d failed.”
After three months out of work, Connexions suggested that Jasmine attend a 12-week Prince’s Trust personal development course to help build her confidence back up.
During the course, she impressed the trust so much she was then asked to become a young ambassador for the youth charity. She has now found employment for training provider A4E.
David Beavis, Prince’s Trust North-East regional director, said: “Our region cannot afford to stifle its young talent. We must invest in young people now, giving them all the chance to achieve their ambitions and become the key workers of the future.”
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