Almost 96 per cent of 16-18 year olds are completing one of these activities.
The number of youngsters in education, training or employment in Richmond has hit a record high, latest figures reveal.
Almost 96 per cent of 16-18 year olds are completing one of the three activities, far higher than the national average of 81.4 per cent and the London average of 87.3 per cent.
Those not in education, employment or training (NEET) has been reduced to 3.9 per cent within the past 12 months, and the council has secured £100,000 from City Bridge Trust to support local organisations to help young people who are in danger of falling into permanent unemployment.
Councillor Christine Percival, Cabinet Member for Health and Children’s Services, said the figures showed real progress was being made.
“We are delighted at how well our Children’s Services team has done in reducing the number of children and young people who are not in education, employment, or training,” she said.
“The future of all our children and young people within the borough is at the heart of what we do and we will be delighted to invest the money secured from the City ofLondonin partner organisations that will help reduce our figures even further.”
One of the ways young people in Richmond are being helped to secure jobs is the Positive 4 U Project, which offers an intensive support programme to get the most vulnerable young people have the confidence, resilience, skills and experience to progress to education, employment or training.
The programme will offer four programmes over a two-year period and engage 40 NEET or at risk of NEET young people, who will be given 94 to 122 guided learning hours. For young peple who leave school and enrol, the course will count as learning and bthey will not be classed as NEET, due to he number of guided learning hours involved.
Mark Boleat, Policy Chairman of the City of LondonCorporation, said: “Richmond Council is one of the leading authorities in the country for tackling NEETS and I hope this funding helps the Council reduce its figures even further. Young people are the lifeblood of London like any great city. They bring the ideas, innovation, and enthusiasm needed to drive our economy forward.”
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