A Merseyside borough is defying the national rise in young people not in education, employment, or training (Neet) by offering targeted support to children as young as 12.
Sixteen-year-old Chloe, who suffers from severe anxiety, left school at 14 to be homeschooled in Sefton. She grew increasingly isolated and unsure of her future until a careers adviser from the charity Career Connect provided one-on-one guidance. The adviser helped her attend college open days, enroll in a childcare course, and build the confidence to travel independently. "I wouldn't have been able to go to college now if I didn't have Kate's help," Chloe says.
Sefton Council launched its early intervention scheme in 2019, shifting from supporting only over-16s to targeting younger pupils at risk of becoming Neet. The results are striking: just 3.8% of 16- and 17-year-olds in Sefton are now Neet—half the rate before the program began.
A recent review by former Labour minister Alan Milburn warns that Britain faces a "lost generation" unless urgent action is taken to help over one million young people aged 16–24 who are not earning or learning. Milburn argues that the system fails young people, often steering them toward welfare rather than work.
In Leeds, a similar pilot targets students from age 12. Three schools in the Cockburn Multi-Academy Trust, working with the charity Ahead Partnership, offer 60 Year 8 students visits to local businesses, employability workshops, and mentoring. Assistant head Terri Nelson reports that 58% of participants have improved their attendance since February.
Claire Maguire, service manager for Employment and Learning at Sefton Council, says early intervention prevents "drift and delay" that previously left young people waiting months for help. The council now provides career support to nearly a third of at-risk students before they turn 16.
Career Connect's Sarah Vaughan notes that staff often make multiple home visits to engage isolated youths. "There's a lot of fear among young people that they've failed at the age of 14, 15, 16 and that's the rest of their life," she says. The program has worked with around 5,000 under-16s since 2019.
Nye Cominetti, principal economist at the Resolution Foundation, attributes the UK's high Neet rate—one of the worst in Europe—to weak non-university pathways and a long-term education system failure, exacerbated by poor mental health and a sluggish labor market.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson acknowledges schools cannot solve the crisis alone and stresses the importance of early years and community support, as highlighted by the Milburn Review.