NCB is Backing Young Britain

Wednesday 16 September 2009

"Backing Young Britain" is a Government campaign calling on organisations to create more opportunities for young people, by bringing businesses, public and voluntary sectors together to ensure that the valuable skills and experience of our young people aren't being wasted.

A key element of the campaign asks employer organisations from all sectors to sign up to one or more of the following seven pledges:

  1. to offer a volunteering place or volunteer mentor to school and university leavers to help them find their feet in the jobs market
  2. to provide work experience places or a work trial to help young people learn about employment and sharpen up their CV
  3. to develop an internship for 18 year olds and non graduates
  4. to develop an internship for a graduate
  5. to make an apprenticeship available for 16-24 year olds
  6. to bid for one of the 100,000 jobs for young people in the Government's Future Jobs Fund
  7. to join a Local Employment Partnership to ensure job vacancies are advertised to local unemployed people.

 

NCB actively tries to engage young people in all areas of its work, involving young people in the recruitment process of hiring new staff, on its Board and in the majority of its project work. Here are a few examples of how NCB's work is actively supporting the "Backing Young Britain" campaign:

  • Young Volunteers Leadership Programme: In this unique programme young people will identify, design and deliver a local project of their choice for the benefit of the community
  • Young NCB: a national membership network that allows children and young people to express their views and take action on policy issues that impact upon their lives
  • Career development: our programme consists of three parts: work experience, apprenticeships, internships and volunteering. The scheme is flexible and enables both young people and NCB to learn and benefit in a practical way but also allows the young people to continue with their formal education and/or training
  • Participation Works: with partners Participation Works helps organisations develop capacity to involve children and young people in the way they work and what they do.

 

More information on NCB's participation work is available on our website.

Times are tough for young people who are leaving school or full-time education this summer. Yet they are the future of our workforce and it's vital that they get the help they need now, to find a job, get training, or build their work skills and experience. We can and should all play our part.

For more information, and to find out how you can show your support or sign up to the campaign, visit the Backing Young Britain website at: www.hmg.gov.uk/backingyoungbritain.