FutureYou: New tactics needed on careers advice for young people
Patrick Gifford, FutureYou programme manager, criticises current careers advice provisions for young people:
"Today is a day for celebrating the achievements of our nation's school and college leavers, and we shouldn't forget that.
"However, for thousands more young people, it is also the day when they face the reality of entering a world in which jobs, further education and training opportunities are scarce, and the kind of support which is needed to help them take advantage of what opportunities do exist, isn't readily available.
"Young people have told us that career advisors in schools and Job Centres were the least useful tool available to them and what they want is support from people their age, their families and working people they can take realistic advice from, and it’s online that is their typical 'go-to' destination.
"We need a change in tactics – a new, innovative and cost-effective approach to supporting our nation's young people right now, to ensure that we're not condemning a future generation to a ticking time-bomb of depression and emotional difficulties. We're starting to make that change with FutureYou."