EXAMPLE – Supporting young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) to re-engage in Somerset
About this opportunity
The opportunity:
We are looking to better understand the experiences of young people who are not currently in education, employment or training, and to co-design more accessible pathways back into opportunities.
Why now, and why Somerset?:
There is increasing concern about the number of young people not engaged in education, employment or training and the long-term impact this can have. We want to act early and collaboratively to understand what’s not working and create more inclusive and flexible pathways.
What we hope to learn, understand, or achieve:
We want to understand the barriers that prevent young people from engaging with education, training, or employment, including practical, emotional, and systemic factors. The aim is to identify what types of support and opportunities feel relevant, trusted, and achievable, and to use this insight to improve local pathways.
Ways to get involved:
What organisations might gain from being involved:
– Better understanding of barriers facing young people
– Opportunity to influence local support and pathways
– Stronger partnerships across sectors
– Insight to improve their own services
Introduction to the project lead
Name:
Alison White
Organisation:
All About The Place
We bring together organisations across education, employment, and youth support to improve opportunities for young people in Somerset. Our focus is on creating pathways that reflect real needs and experiences.
What involvement might look like
What we are asking organisations to do:
Participants may be asked to:
– Share insight through group discussions or one-to-one conversations
– Support engagement with young people
– Contribute to co-design workshops
– Provide feedback on emerging ideas
How much time is likely to be involved:
Most involvement will be light-touch, such as a 1–2 hour session or short contributions over a few weeks, depending on interest.
How we are making it easy to be involved:
– Flexible and informal engagement methods
– Clear communication and expectations
– Support with reaching young people
– Recognition of time and contribution
What can be shaped and what is fixed:
– Can be shaped: How we engage young people, the types of solutions explored, and recommendations for future support
– Fixed: The focus on improving pathways into education, training, and employment within current programme timelines
Delivery timeframes:
We are planning engagement between September and November, with flexibility to work around organisational capacity and young people’s availability.