Huge rise in number of Dorset teens not in work or education
There's concern over the number of teens not in education or employment due to anxiety and poor mental health
The number of 16-to-18-year-olds in Dorset who are not in education or employment has risen 25%, from 229 in December 2023 to 322 a year later.
Councillors were told that rural isolation, long commutes, and school bullying are key barriers.
One told a council meeting that even if a youngster was motivated to get a job, or go to college, from many areas this is likely to mean catching a 7am bus and not getting back home until 11-12 hours later.
Gillingham Cllr Carl Woode questioned whether there were adequate apprenticeship opportunities in the county and whether they were distributed evenly around Dorset so those living in rural areas could easily access work.
Cllr Toni Coombs told the committee that she had been told some firms were struggling with increased costs, partly because of the rise in National Insurance fees, and were shedding jobs suitable for young people as a result.
However, the Head of Commissioning for Family Help, Simon Fraize-Brown said there was not enough evidence for or against the claim.
Meanwhile, a report read out to the committee highlighted that anxiety and emotional wellbeing issues were common reasons for teenagers not finding work or continuing with education.
The report found that many who are now not working, or in education, were previously persistent non-attenders at school or classed as being home-educated at Year 11.
Sturminster Newton Cllr Carole Jones called on the council to find new ways of encouraging young people approaching the end of their school years to either carry on with education or to support them into work.
She said she was often told by youngsters not at school that one of the main reasons they had left, or not attended, was because of bullying, something which she said needed to be tackled – with some schools failing to recognise it as a problem.
Simon Fraize-Brown said that the council had recently increased its targeted youth workers from eight to 22 across the county thanks to Government funding.
The council’s work has included drop-in sessions at schools, outreach work in the community and working in partnership with voluntary sector organisations.