New young people’s charity Catch22 has secured last minute changes to the Education and Skills Bill to provide more support for young people who are struggling to stay in education. Working jointly with Barnardos the charities convinced Ministers to introduce ‘Learning and Support Agreements’ which help to identify and tackle the problems which may stop young people from studying.
The Bill – currently in its final stages – increases the age at which young people must stay in education or training to 18. As originally drafted a young person with a tough home situation who sometimes misses out on lessons and training sessions could face a fine for non-attendance. Catch22 argued this fine could result in more problems for young people and lead to them giving up on education – the very thing they need to help them move on.
Catch22 played a leading role in arguing that a young person who needs individual support but isn’t receiving it should not face any penalty.
‘Learning and Support Agreements’ will see local authorities offer young people support while in education and training. In return, young people who receive this support have to stick with their education programmes.
Jim Knight, Minister of State, Department for Children, Schools and Families thanked the organisation for its contribution and welcomed the latest amendments as making the Bill “stronger, fuller and better”. Hansard, 17 November 2008
Joyce Moseley , Chief Executive of Catch22, said:
“We are thrilled with the changes that have been made to this bill. They are a step forward in helping young people to help themselves out of difficult situations.”
The Education and Skills Bill contains measures to encourage more young people to take part in learning post-16. The Government proposals mean that by 2013, all 17 year olds, and by 2015, all 18 year olds, will take part in some form of education or training. The Department for Children Schools and Families expects the bill to become law in December
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For further information and a copy of our who we are, what we do brochure, contact the Catch 22 press office on 020 7618 9102 or 07795 428338.
Notes to Editors:
Catch22 is the new charity formed by the merger of young people’s charity Rainer and crime prevention charity Crime Concern in July 2008. Minister Jim Knight referred to Rainer in the commons debate on 17 November 2008.
Catch22 works with young people aged between 8 and 25. The charity aims to help young people ways out of their no-win situations through one-to-one support as well as help through projects and programmes across the UK. Catch22 has 200 years of experience working with young people.
Catch22 worked with 34,000 young people last year hundreds of communities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
An analysis of national data on the problems facing young people found there are more than half a million young people (515,000) in England and Wales facing a combination of different problems and trapped in touch, Catch 22 situations. This figure has been compiled through an analysis of local authority, health and youth justice data. It’s important to note that the total figure is not a simple combination of the figures given below. Rather, it is a carefully worked out statistic which avoids double-counting young people, focuses on 10 to 25 year olds and veers on the side on caution. The total figure includes: 189,000 16 and 17 year olds outside of education or employment; 52,000 young homeless people; 8,300 young people leaving care; 8,680 children permanently excluded from school; 303,000 school age children who have used drugs or got drunk in the last four weeks; 473,000 10 -25 year olds classed as prolific offenders, around 60% of whom have a serious drug or alcohol problem.
