First-of-its kind pilot
launches to prevent
a ‘lost generation’ of NEETs

A groundbreaking four-year programme designed to prevent young people from becoming Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) is set to launch in Leeds, signalling a bold commitment from local organisations to tackling one of the most pressing social challenges in the country.

Youth disengagement and unemployment is a growing crisis in the UK. Findings from this month reveal that youth unemployment has hit a crisis point, with 16.1% of those aged between 16 and 24 currently out of work, the highest rate in more than 10 years.

To address this challenge, the ‘Shaping Our Future’ pre-NEET intervention pilot, developed by social value specialist Ahead Partnership, focuses on NEET prevention for selected groups of at risk local young people.

This innovative programme brings together public and private sector partners, supported by the Liz and Terry Bramall Foundation. Partners will include the likes of Cockburn Multi-Academy Trust, Caddick, First Bus, Jet 2 and Landsec. Ahead Partnership will work with employers and business leaders, educators, families, young people, and organisations from the public and private sectors to deliver strategic and interactive skills and careers activities for at least 45 students.

By flipping traditional engagement models and focusing on prevention at an early stage in their secondary school education, the initiative will reach young people from the city who have been identified using the Risk of Becoming NEET Indicators (RONI) as the most likely to become NEET – ensuring the right young people are engaged through the pilot.

The programme officially launches on the 25^th February at Asda’s Leeds Merchandising Centre of Excellence, where students will be involved in designing the programme, ensuring they are bought in early on in the process.

Setting the tone for the programme as student led, the launch event encourages its young participants to volunteer themselves for the pilot, aiming to inspire attendees to sign up for a four year programme that aims to improve attendance, attainment and ultimately reduce the likelihood of students becoming NEET when they leave school.

Through sustained, employer-led activity over multiple years, students from three local secondary schools, Cockburn School, Cockburn John Charles Academy and Cockburn Laurence Calvert Academy, will take part in a programme of events, skills sessions, workshops, work experience and mentorship delivered from Year 8 to Year 11 in collaboration with business leaders in the city. The programme will test how effective employers can be in motivating and engaging young people to take control of their future armed with practical support on how to get there.

The pilot directly responds to recent calls made by former Health Secretary Alan Milburn, who has called for a ‘movement’ to address rising NEET levels, and has commissioned an investigation to tackle growing youth unemployment across the UK. Findings so far have highlighted the need for earlier, joined-up support and intervention to prevent young people from falling through the cracks.

“This type of game changing preventative intervention is lacking at a Government level in addressing the NEET crisis. Solving this problem requires a national effort and partnership approach and piloting this in Leeds gives us the opportunity to develop a best practice model – starting with improving local young lives and learning directly from young people about what is affecting their outcomes.”

Councillor Helen Hayden, Leeds City Council’s executive member for children and families, said:

“This pilot is a fantastic example of what we can do as a city coming together, working in partnership across all sectors. We know that our young people value education and it is one of our Child Friendly Leeds wishes that children and young people are in learning settings that meet their needs.

Addressing inequality is the driver of the work we do as a council, and key to our Leeds Ambitions, and this offers an opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of children at risk of missing out on their best future.

I’m excited to see how the pilot goes, what we can learn from it and what lessons we can take to the wider city of Leeds and beyond.”

Mubs Mahmed, Business Engagement Manager at First Bus, said:

“This programme is exactly the kind of proactive, real-world support that young people need, especially those who may not have access to professional networks or industry insight at home.”

“At First Bus, we have local knowledge and sector expertise that can genuinely shape a young person’s future. By opening our doors and working closely with students from an early age, we can help them build confidence, skills and ambition long before they make decisions about their next steps.”

“We’re proud to be part of a partnership that is not just observing the NEET crisis, but is actively doing something to change it in the city of Leeds and beyond.”