Responding to the report ‘Unleashing Aspiration’ published today by the Panel on Fair Access to Professions, Graham Beech, Director of Communications from the young people’s charity Catch22, commented:
“This report stresses the important role that parents have to play in shaping the aspirations and attainment of their children, but there is little mention of those young people who are in care or for whom home is far from a supportive environment. For these young people, better work experience schemes and high-profile role models may not be enough to change their idea of what they can achieve.
“But if these young people are given the opportunity to achieve their aspirations, the benefits to their communities can be immense.
“Evidence suggests that one positive, close relationship with an adult in a safe environment, can make the difference a young person needs to stay on track and get on in life. This could be a professional from a specialist service, a youth club worker, a mentor, or just someone that has decided to give that young person a chance. Too many young people in difficult situations have no one to fill that role and this gap needs to be addressed. That adult could be the difference between a young person with no confidence or aspirations, and one that goes on to achieve something amazing”.
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Note to editors:
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The National Care Advisory Service, part of Catch22, recently announced plans to boost the prospects of young people leaving care by working with organisations across all sectors to increase opportunities for placements, work experience and jobs. The From Care 2 Work scheme, funded by the DCSF, will help thousands of young care leavers to gain vital skills and give them a brighter outlook at a crucial point in their lives.
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Catch22 works with 37,000 young people in more than 150 places in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It helps young people find ways out of tough situations by building strong relationships with them and tackling the problems they face through specialist projects.
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Catch22 is the new charity formed by the merger of young people’s charity Rainer and crime prevention charity Crime Concern in July 2008. It has 200 years of experience working with young people. To find out more go to www.catch-22.org.uk
