News today of a great initiative to help young people who are socially disadvantaged to gain valuable work experience and find a potential new career path.
The UK’s largest children’s charity Barnardo's has joined forces with restaurant chain KFC to help Barnardo's service users get a foot on the job ladder. Evidence provided by Barnardo’s shows that vulnerable young people are more likely than their peers to struggle to find work:
- Permanently excluded children are 37% more likely to be unemployed than those who complete mainstream schooling;
- Those who have engaged in substance abuse or criminal acts by the age of 13/14 are more likely to struggle to get into employment, education or training;
- 33% of care leavers are not in employment, education or training at age 19;
- 12% of 16 – 18 year olds with learning difficulties are NEET compared to 6% of those without disabilities
The new partnership harnesses KFC’s expertise in training and development, and invites young people from Barnardo’s are invited to interview for a work placement in their local KFC restaurant. The work placement can last from 1 day up to four weeks and is followed by a work review. Depending on their ability, a young person may complete one or all stages of the programme.
Barnardo’s Chief Executive Anne Marie Carrie said, “Now is a tough time for any young person to start out in the world of work but those who are vulnerable are in danger of being shunned by the work place. The Government has made some headway to tackling the issue of youth unemployment but private and voluntary sector partnerships have a vital role to play in equipping all young people with confidence and skills on their journey towards work. Collectively, we must commit to doing whatever it takes to get young people into work, so that we can look the most marginalised in the eye and know that we are doing right by them.”
Barnardo’s takes part in the Government’s Youth Contract and Work Programmes but also works in partnership with local employers, schools, colleges and charities across the country. The charity trains and supports more than 4,000 young people through its thirty employment, training and skills services across the country every year. The young person does not get paid for his or her short placement because they must be supervised at all times and are not deemed to be ‘adding value’ to the business, but are, instead, learning and gaining valuable skills and experience from it. Travel, lunch and uniform costs are reimbursed by KFC.
Barnardo’s service user Jamie, 20, who recently completed a work placement with KFC and as a result of his hard work has been offered a job at a KFC restaurant in Manchester said, “I’ve been in and out of care homes most of my life. I could never concentrate in class, and I didn’t get good grades. To be honest I thought I’d never get a job. But Barnardo’s has helped me deal with my problems, and thanks to KFC’s training, now I’ve got a job. I feel proud of myself.”
KFC UK & Ireland Managing Director Martin Shuker said, “Training and development is one of our greatest strengths as a business so we feel this is an area in which we can make a difference. By getting Barnardo’s youngsters into our restaurants, we are not only transforming their lives by giving them vital work experience skills, but we are motivating our own staff and gaining fresh perspectives on our work. We want to encourage employers everywhere to be braver and to give vulnerable young people a fighting chance at getting their foot on the employment ladder.”
The number of unemployed young people in the UK has increased dramatically by 80% in the last ten years and 50% in the last five.
- Youth unemployment (18 – 24) currently stands at 1,012,000 – close to its highest level since comparable records began in 1992. That’s one in five 18 – 24 year olds who are unemployed.
- 968,000 young people are currently NEET (16 – 24) - close to the highest since records began in 2000. That’s one in six 16 – 24 year olds.
- Long periods of unemployment, or moving frequently from one temporary post to another, while people are young, has a ‘scarring effect’ that lasts throughout their working lives.
But the young people who come to Barnardo's - and many others who don't find their way there - may have been through and left the care system; may have been victims of abuse; may have experienced homelessness; have been permanently expelled or who may struggle with behavioural or emotional difficulties. This means their chances of finding work are even more dire. KFC and Barnardo’s are urging others to engage in private and voluntary sector partnerships, in order for doors to be opened to disadvantaged young people, to ensure that their fate is not dictated by circumstance.
Do you run a company that could give a young person from a disadvantaged background some training or could speak to your boss about it? If so, please contact Barnardo's right away and help give a young person like Jamie a chance of a better future.
Tweet them: http://twitter.com/barnardos
Facebook them: https://www.facebook.com/barnardos
Tania is an experienced broadcast and print journalist & author. She also runs a PR, web & social media consultancy, SocialOro Media.
Tania is a rare disease & chronic pain patient advocate with Ehlers Danlos syndrome.
- How well is the Government respecting children with SEND’s right to education? - May 16, 2023
- SNJ in Conversation with Carrie Grant: Supporting children at the intersection of SEND, Race and Gender Identity - May 12, 2023
- SNJ WEBINAR: SEND Minister Claire Coutinho discusses the SEND Improvement Plan. Register now! - April 19, 2023
You must log in to post a comment.