A combination of approaches is used to encourage young people into work. Youth unemployment will cost £6.9 Billion by 2022 based on the ‘Facing the Future Employment’ prospects for young people post Coronavirus pandemic. Young people will continue to bear the worst of the unemployment crisis and will reduce UK economic output by around £15 billion before 2025.

The crisis has impacted different groups of young people, raising concerns that the pandemic has, and will continue to, exacerbate pre-existing inequalities. The decline in working hours for young people with no qualifications (34%) has been five times higher than the decline for those with a degree level qualification (7%). The demand for employees with lower-level qualifications is projected to fall in the short, medium and long-term, raising concerns for employment prospects of young people who lack higher level qualifications. Furthermore, the reduction in working hours for black young people (49%) is three times higher than those for white young people (16%).

Our approach enables us to also support  Children and Young People aged  8 – 27 years, the majority of whom live in the Ashley, Easton & Lawrence Hill wards of East Bristol. These areas are celebrated for the diversity of their communities, with 44% of residents coming from black and minority ethnic backgrounds. However, these areas also rate high on indices of national deprivation, have high levels of children living in low-income families, and below average levels of educational attainment. Time not spent in education or training impacts future employment prospects, increasing the likelihood of unemployment, low wages, or low quality of work later in life. In addition, people from minority ethnic groups endure persistently high levels of unemployment in Bristol, and experience employment inequality. To support young people in or out of school, we provide a range of programmes to help them develop skills for life. Our programmes facilitate these across three areas: physical activities, project-based learning, and cultural education workshops.

We focus on:

• Enhancing social skills  –  communication, attitude and teamwork skills.
• Improving physical health and wellbeing through sports.
• Preparing for effective interactions in multicultural settings.
• Exploring heritage, identity, and creativity.
• Developing practical employability skills.
• Providing career advice and guidance.