NEET Young People and Training for Work – (PDF/EPUB Version)

The number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) is rising to alarming levels. Being NEET seriously affects the life chances of many of these young people as they face the possibility of longterm unemployment, isolation and social exclusion. Reengaging them in training is therefore a priority for policymakers and practitioners. This book examines the experiences of a group of young people in the postindustrial north of England attending Entry to Employment, a workbased learning programme for those who have been NEET or risk becoming so in the future. It critically appraises the discourse on NEET young people and its social, economic and political context, and it challenges conventional stereotypes of ‘the NEETs’ as dysfunctional and lacking aspiration. Drawing on a detailed ethnographic study of young people and the practitioners working with them, it explores the complexities and realities of learning on the margins. A key resource for students and academics on higher education courses on youth work, the book provides valuable insights for teachers, youth workers, careers advisers and others working with young people who are concerned with social justice in education.