This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: We can all see the huge waste of talent this represents for the young people concerned and society as a whole. In his interim report on young people and work, commissioned by the government, former MP Alan Milburn found that although most young people in this situation aspire to steady employment, education or training, pathways to achieve their aims are unclear.
These issues reflect societal, moral and economic failure. Milburn identifies multiple intersecting reasons for the current situation. He observes that health, education, social services and legal systems can compound existing disadvantage.
Interactions with these systems are often impersonal and transactional, prioritizing measurable outcomes over genuine concern for the individual. Even the term NEET shows how young people are perceived as problems to be fixed, not individuals with dreams and talents. Defining them as "not in employment, not in education, not in training" implies there is something wrong with them.
Do I define myself as "not an accountant"? If using such loaded, discouraging terms limits how society thinks about young people and often how they think about themselves, research shows the benefits of taking a strengths-based mentoring approach. For some, such relationships already exist around them.
For others, a formal mechanism can introduce mentors to make these connections. Mentors are trained adults who can offer emotional, practical and developmental support to young people. They help young people understand their goals, strengths and how to bring about change for themselves, rather than predetermining a problem and imposing solutions.
For my doctoral research, I worked with seven young people, seven mentors, two mentoring coordinators and four referrers in a local authority mentoring program. This research showed the value of the trusting relationships they formed. A mentor listened and helped young people express their needs and provided time and space to explore new ideas and address worries.
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