Giving hope to the young and unemployed

Young people's talents are being left on the shelf for many reasons. The obvious one is too few jobs. And, as graduates are forced to lower their ambitions and older people can't afford to retire, young jobseekers without a top-class CV can wonder if paid work will ever be within their grasp. Here we detail a number of national events and resources; young people should also be encouraged to look around for local organisations working to help them.
Image © Photofusion

Work hard just to get by? Young people remain unimpressed
In this month's Quids In Professional Network Blog, director of Clean Slate, Jeff Mitchell, examines the way young people are being prepared for the work place, and asks is it time to look again at our aspirations and expectations?

Youth Employment Convention
13-14 May Kia Oval Cricket Ground, London
The convention is led by the Central for Social Inclusion (CESI) and convention partners AELP. It will debate all elements of the youth employment agenda and learn what is working on the ground. Confirmed contributors include: Baroness Stedman Scott, Chief Executive, Tomorrow's people, RT Hon Dame Tessa Jowell DBE MP, Baroness Gillian Shephard, Deputy Chair, Social Mobility Commission and Mark Fisher, Social Justice Director of the Department of Work and Pensions. See more details here.

Finding the Best Pathways to Employment for Ethnic Minority Jobseekers
April 3 Amnesty International, London
One of three one-day partnership events jointly hosted by the CESI and BTEG examining how to improve the labour market outcomes of people from ethnic minority backgrounds.  Click for a booking form.

IntoWork Convention 2014
8-9 July Arena Convention Centre, Liverpool
The Welfare to Work Convention has become the IntoWork Convention for 2014. It will be larger and more interactive, showcasing ‘what works’ in employment, skills, health and for disadvantaged people. It is supported by the International Festival of Business running in Liverpool at the same time. See more details here.

Literacy and numeracy
Research has found that many UK businesses have serious concerns about the literacy and numeracy skills of recent school leavers. The Youth Literacy and Employability Commission is a joint venture between the All Party Parliamentary Parliament Group on Literacy and the National Literacy Trust to gather evidence and make recommendations to Government. Its final report was published in December. It also produced two more reports Employers’ views on youth literacy and employability and Young people’s views on literacy skills and employment.

Digital Exclusion
We tend to assume that young people are born with the ability to build a website and flit around social media, but research by the Princes Trust in 2013 found that one in 10 unemployed young people cannot send their CV online, while more than one in six (17%) believe they would be in work today if they had better computer skills.

Releasing potential through mentoring
Mosaic was founded by HRH The Prince of Wales in 2007; its programmes create opportunities for young people growing up in our most deprived communities. It aims to bridge the aspirations-attainment gap and break down cultural barriers by linking young people with inspirational role models. In July 2013, Mosaic received the Big Society Award. For more see mosaicnetwork.co.uk.

An enterprising young man
Jamie Dunn is a 22 year-old entrepreneur, who started his first business aged 12 selling unwanted items at school. His book, CrackOn is full of realistic and practical ideas and resources to help young people start their own business; 10% of the profits are made available as grants to young people to start their own business.

Four steps to getting that job
The BBC asked four experts for tips to give their advice on how to approach that all-important job interview - from what you wear to how you can use body language to impress your potential future boss. With videos (2012). Click here.

What would Labour do?
The Labour party has promised a 'jobs guarantee' scheme if it wins the 2015 general election. Under the plan, 18 to 24-year-olds out of work for a year would be offered a taxpayer-funded job for six months, the sting in the tail is that those who refuse would lose benefits. Labour says it would pay for this by taxing bank bonuses and changing tax rules for the pensions of high earners. Read more.

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Who can help?

National Career service
This website includes tips for getting a job, including how to prepare a CV or plan your career. See more here.

How old do you have to be?
The CAB gives guidance on the kind of work children and young people can legally do. Click here.

The Youth Contract
Details for the DWP's initiatives to help young people to find work experience and apprenticeships. Click here.

The Princes Trust
The Trust gives practical and financial support to the young people who need it most. It aims to help develop key skills, confidence and motivation, enabling young people to move into work, education or training. Click for more. It also offers help to young people wanting to start their own business through its Enterprise Programme.

Realising Ambition
Launched in 2012, Realising Ambition is a UK-wide Big Lottery Fund programme delivered by a consortium led by Catch22. The partners are The Social Research Unit, Substance and the Young Foundation. It is investing £25 million to replicate 25 outstanding projects with a track record in improving outcomes for children and young people.

Mental health
Mental health issues can be a barrier to employment, and worklessness can cause or increase problems. YoungMinds is committed to improving the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children and young people. It offers help to children and young people, parents and those working with them.

Include Youth
Include Youth in Northern Ireland works to influence policy, while providing training work experience and support for young people.