A Powerful Demonstration of a Local Community Coming Together to Help its Own Young People.
An important part of being High Sheriff is to shine a light on an issue of importance in the County and I have been drawing attention to the number of young people in Surrey ‘Not in Education, Employment or Training’ (NEET). I commissioned research from the Centre of Britain and Europe at the University of Surrey to produce and analyse data on the various cohorts that make up the NEET population and the factors which lead them to this position; and then held a conference at the University inviting key stakeholders who are aware of the issue and are trying to tackle it.
The outcome of the conference was to establish a Community of Practice or Steering Committee to encourage co-operation and collaboration between various entities, statutory and non-statutory to share knowledge, data, experiences and ideas to enable joined-up decision-making; and working parties to focus on data sharing, single-front door mentoring guidance and the creation of local community collaboration hubs.
On June 10th at KBR’s wonderful office campus in Leatherhead, such a local community came together in a very powerful show of local unity. Bill Donnelly and Eddie McArdie co-founders of The Link Centre assembled representatives from all parts of the local community including the local authority, education providers (from primary schools through to further education colleges), employers (including KBR, The Wates Group, Kier Property Group), the Police and local charities and voluntary service providers. The Chair (Tim Hall) and Vice Chair (Bernie Muir) of Surrey County Council and the CEO of the Surrey Camber of Commerce (Louise Punter) were also in attendance.
The evening was chaired by Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, who encouraged a vigorous debate after I had addressed the meeting on the NEET issue across the County and the findings of both the research and the conference at the University of Surrey. We heard storied of lived experience, challenges but also positive messages encouraging change. An initiative to teach horticulture skills and another to provide construction skills training to young people at risk of becoming NEET, whilst still at school, with the intention of guaranteeing them a job on completion was put forward by The Link Centre and offers of support were received from those in room. It was cooperation and collaboration personified and an example of what perhaps can be achieved for other local communities when they come together. I look forward to working with them to help reduce the number of NEETs and those at risk of being NEET in North Leatherhead.
Photography: Andy Newbold
