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Future You NEET Survey

 A survey of 754 16-24 year olds who are not currently in education, employment or training.

Date Published: 11 Jul 2011

Categories: Education | Public and communities | Social | UK

Download Future You NEET Survey 0.02 MB.

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 “Our life is being wasted” claim three quarters1 (78%) of nation’s unemployed young people according to research by FutureYou highlighting the dangers of being NEET 

 

Tuesday July 12th 2011 – TODAY, FutureYou launches hard-hitting figures revealing three quarters of young people currently not in employment, education or training (NEET) in the UK, feel their life is being wasted2. One in five (22%) also feel that life isn’t worth living and 69% believe their potential is being thrown away. 
FutureYou, www.thefutureyou.org.uk, is an innovative programme for young people aged 14 – 25, which harnesses the award-winning CyberMentors social networking model to provide a community of support and counselling, including career information, advice and guidance - all in real-time from people in the kinds of professions that young people are aspiring to enter.
 
FutureYou is the driving force behind a new and provocative “Waste” advertising campaign which launches nationwide from today across TV, print, and online media partners including, YouTube, JC Decaux, Bauer, and the Guardian online are amongst the media owners that have already agreed to support the FutureYou campaign by offering pro bono ad space where possible. 
 
The “Waste” advertising campaign depicts real-life NEETs hidden amongst piles of rubbish and waste who are then slowly revealed to the camera as they struggle to escape the rubbish dump. It brings to life FutureYou’s call for the tragedy of almost one million wasted young lives in the UK to be addressed in a way which actually meets the true needs of NEETs today.
 
A report commissioned by FutureYou reveals that the average NEET spends eight months unsuccessfully searching for a job or training. More than half (54%) feel as though life is passing them by, and one in five (22%) believe that they are unlikely to ever get a job or career in the future.  A third of NEETs (34%) believe its unlikely they will be successful in finding work in the future almost half doubt it will be in an area that utilises their skills or talents.  Aspirations of social mobility are also negatively affected with almost a half (46%) giving up the dream of owning their own home.
 
Young people are also struggling to see a way to escape their NEET status, with 40% currently relying on state benefits as their main source of income, and 19% stating that they expect they will have to rely on state benefits in the future. 
 
The cost of university is a barrier to finding future employment, with 74% saying that a reduction in tuition fees would help them find employment or training.  
 
The FutureYou: A Wasted Generation report also uncovers the serious detrimental effects on a young person’s emotional health and wellbeing which can arise as a direct result of being a long-term NEET. These include:
 
25% of young people contemplating suicide to escape their life situation
One in five (22%) abusing alcohol and 13% resorting to taking drugs
42% feeling they are not part of society
A third believing they face discrimination
And as a result, seven in ten believe their life has got worse as a direct result of being NEET
 
 The nation’s young women are also being hit hard, with 48% stating that they feel that they have “no chance of getting a job” compared to the more positive view held by their male counterparts (32%). Female NEETs are also more likely to state they felt “desperate or hopeless” when thinking about the future, and are twice as like to resort to self-harming as a means to escape their situation (18% versus 9% of male NEETs).
 
Desperate for more support, over a quarter (28%) of UK NEETs blame a lack of support and advice from the resources that are traditionally available to them, such as local Job Centres and schools career services. 
Four in five (80%) also believe that cuts made by the current Government are reducing their chances of losing their NEET status even further, and rank their plight as the lowest in a list of what they consider current Government priorities to be:
 
1. London 2012 Olympics
2. Economy + cuts
3. Foreign wars
4. Health 
5. Education
6. Crime prevention
7. Immigration
8. Transport
9. Climate change
10. Youth unemployment
 
ComRes conducted a survey of 754 16 - 24 year olds who are not currently in education, employment or training. Fieldwork was undertaken by telephone and online between May 31st and June 14th 2011.

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