The percentage of NEET people is equal to the one obtained in 2016 statistics reveal.

The decrease experienced in 2020 was followed by a rapid increase in the number of young people who are not enrolling in education, training, or employment.

11.5 per cent of people between the ages of 16 to 24 years old belong to the NEET category.

Data collected between October and December 2022 by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed that the number is two per cent higher than in previous years.

Charities such as Springboard are based around the UK and are working hard to help people get a job.

Ted Blackwell, 34, Head of Digital Development, says: “We attempt to help people who want to work.

“We work with people who lack the skills and teach young people in order to prevent them from falling into the NEET category.

“For us, it is about providing people with the skills they need.”

Founded in 1990, this organisation has helped around 20 000 people get jobs in the hospitality, leisure, and tourism area (HLT).

According to an article published by the Futures Group in January of last year, 97 per cent of those aged 16 in Nottinghamshire had pursued further education, training or employment leaving a very low percentage as NEET.

Whilst those numbers are encouraging, work will still be needed, especially for those young people suffering from long-term physical and/or mental health conditions.

Data published by the government suggest that at least one in five persons, who is not in education, employment or training suffers from a mental health condition.

However, numbers indicate that 26.9 per cent of those aged 16 to 24 years old who belong to this category have no underlying mental issues, making it the highest percentage in the last 10 years.

For Blackwell, the main barrier young people are facing is a lack of confidence.

He says: “The barrier most often is confidence.

“This is caused by social media and everyone assuming that they need to become an influencer because that’s the norm nowadays.

“There’s also online harassment which has influenced the underlying issue of confidence.”

Other problems such as a lack of experience, motivation and opportunity are also relevant.

For some of these young people, belonging to the NEET category seems to be the norm in their surroundings making them less likely to be encouraged to pursue something else after the age of 16.

For the Springboard charity, the biggest step people need to make is to ask for help, contact organisations who can support them and hopefully encourage them to obtain more.

This is especially harder for those who have no, or reduced, access to the internet since the company needs to find other ways to try to reach them.

Blackwell says: “We use local connections, work with the local governments and councils, create physical and digital media campaigns, but we have a small budget so what we can do is really limited.

“There is a part of personal responsibility, but the government needs to help.

“The government needs to do more.

“The government keeps focusing on the monetary aspect, but people need to have the information in order to be able to help themselves.

“There’s plenty of people who want a job but can’t get it.”

Those last words were confirmed, thanks to the data published by the government which indicated that since the pandemic, things had only gotten worst.

60.5 per cent of young people aged between 16 to 24 who belong to the NEET group were actively looking for work.

In the East Midlands, results published by the Official Census and Labour Market Statistics back in February 2023 acknowledge that around five per cent were receiving benefits due to their economic inactivity.

Blackwell says: “The COVID-19 pandemic did a lot of damage because, during two to three years, they were no opportunities.

“There are one or two generations of young people who haven’t had the chance to experience a part of life that past generations have.”

Alongside other organisations such as the Futures Group, the Springboard Charity is trying to provide the skills and the information needed to those who are still in secondary schools, aged 16 and under.

For those organisations, it is about helping young people with barriers but also preventing others to fall into the not-in-education, employment, or training trap.

Organisations and charities helping young people to make one or various plans for the future by providing them with the skills they will need are making a difference when it comes to local numbers.

No matter what stage NEET people get help, it is important for them to know when to ask for it and how to be able to obtain it.

For Blackwell, those types of organisations are always going to be needed no matter how much support is given, to those aged 16 to 24 years old, from a young age.

He says: “There are always going to be people whose life and/or childhood is or was difficult and as a result, they will need someone to help.

“They are three levels of help needed: the low need, the medium need, and the high need.

“No matter what level they are we promote the Hospitality, Leisure, and Tourism sectors because they are a big part of the economy of the United Kingdom.

“An industry which the government undervalues.”

Whilst the percentage of females who are NEET is lower than the male one (11.8 per cent for the females and 12.8 per cent for the males), past data shows that gender could also have an influence.

Since females are expected to take care of their families even from a very young age, they are the most prone to fall into the not-in-education, employment or training vicious circle.

The Springboard Charity is one of the many organisations that can help young people get a better future.