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The Herald Scotland
16-06-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Act early to boost job outcomes for young disabled people
As of early 2025, the unemployment rate for 16 to 24-year-olds in the UK has climbed to 14.2%, with nearly 620,000 young people out of work. Almost one million are now not in education, employment, or training, which is the highest figure since 2013. For young disabled people, the risks are even greater. Without urgent action, the UK's stark and persistent 30% disability employment gap will only widen further. The solution? Earlier intervention. Through the Churchill Fellowship, I had the opportunity to explore best practice in the USA and Canada, two countries that prove starting young makes all the difference. In the USA, Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) introduce career support as early as five years old. This early start helps young disabled children view a career as something that is not only their right but something they should be aspiring towards. The results speak for themselves: higher employment rates, better-paid roles, and a significant economic return. For every dollar invested in early transition planning, the return is an estimated five dollars. If the UK wants to bridge its employment gap, it must take inspiration from these international models. Waiting until the final years of education to act is not enough. We need a fundamental and systemic shift in approach. All disabled children should be supported to believe that a job is within reach. This means giving the same opportunities to explore, experience and aim high. Success doesn't start at the school gates on the way out. If we're serious about helping young people thrive, we need consistent, joined-up support long before they leave education. Too often, young disabled people face fragmented systems that simply don't match the support their peers receive. Every disabled student deserves meaningful work experience, not just token placements in low-skilled roles. Scotland, and the UK as a whole, must foster ambition from an early age, no matter a child's circumstances. Failing to act now means failing an entire generation. It also means missing a huge economic opportunity. The UK simply cannot afford to get this wrong. Ashley Ryan is director of Enable Works, one of the largest employment support teams in the UK. Her team supports more than 7,000 people who have learning disabilities or barriers to work to develop their employment skills and achieve well paid, sustainable careers. Agenda is a column for outside contributors. Contact: agenda@
The Herald Scotland
16-06-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Early intervention transforms job outcomes for young disabled people
As of early 2025, the unemployment rate for 16 to 24-year-olds in the UK has climbed to 14.2%, with nearly 620,000 young people out of work. Almost one million are now not in education, employment, or training, which is the highest figure since 2013. For young disabled people, the risks are even greater. Without urgent action, the UK's stark and persistent 30% disability employment gap will only widen further. The solution? Earlier intervention. Through the Churchill Fellowship, I had the opportunity to explore best practice in the USA and Canada, two countries that prove starting young makes all the difference. In the USA, Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) introduce career support as early as five years old. This early start helps young disabled children view a career as something that is not only their right but something they should be aspiring towards. The results speak for themselves: higher employment rates, better-paid roles, and a significant economic return. For every dollar invested in early transition planning, the return is an estimated five dollars. If the UK wants to bridge its employment gap, it must take inspiration from these international models. Waiting until the final years of education to act is not enough. We need a fundamental and systemic shift in approach. All disabled children should be supported to believe that a job is within reach. This means giving the same opportunities to explore, experience and aim high. Success doesn't start at the school gates on the way out. If we're serious about helping young people thrive, we need consistent, joined-up support long before they leave education. Too often, young disabled people face fragmented systems that simply don't match the support their peers receive. Every disabled student deserves meaningful work experience, not just token placements in low-skilled roles. Scotland, and the UK as a whole, must foster ambition from an early age, no matter a child's circumstances. Failing to act now means failing an entire generation. It also means missing a huge economic opportunity. The UK simply cannot afford to get this wrong. Ashley Ryan is director of Enable Works, one of the largest employment support teams in the UK. Her team supports more than 7,000 people who have learning disabilities or barriers to work to develop their employment skills and achieve well paid, sustainable careers. Agenda is a column for outside contributors. Contact: agenda@
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Springfield Youth Project grants $10,000 to six local non-profits
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — The Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) chapter in Springfield has given $10,000 in grants to six local non-profits to help fund their community service and education programs. The six non-profits that were awarded YEP grants are: American Indian Center of Springfield: $2,025 to support Indigenous youth by enhancing its Youth Drum Group Program that enables demonstration of Native American Powwow drumming to communities. Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield: $1,500 to support a Mental Health Awareness Day event in May, hosted by its Torch and Keystone Clubs, that will allow youth and families to explore mental health topics, reduce stigma and access resources to promote emotional well-being. Empower: abilities: $1,200 to enhance its Pre-Employment Transition Services program, designed to equip students ages 14–21 with essential workforce-readiness skills such as communication and customer service. Isabel's House: $2,400 for its HOPE Totes program, which supports families in crisis and provides essential items such as socks, hygiene kits and gift cards. Ozarks Food Harvest: $1,000 to support its Weekend Backpack Program, which provides weekend meals to food-insecure children in southwest Missouri. The Rebound Foundation: $1,875 to educate youth on intimate partner violence and raise awareness through workshops, peer groups and community partnerships. YEP, supported by the Community Foundation of the Ozarks (CFO), says its goal is to assist middle and high school students in the Ozarks by instilling values such as education, service, fundraising and more. YEP's Springfield chapter comprises 16 students from Greenwood Laboratory School, Springfield Catholic High School and Kickapoo High School. YEP also has 10 other chapters in rural Missouri. 'Throughout the school year, the students learned all about nonprofits and toured a few of them while launching their very own grant program,' said Rachel Tripp, Springfield City YEP chapter sponsor and community impact coordinator for the CFO. 'Evaluating grant applications and selecting recipients was a great learning experience. I look forward to having the juniors return next year, and I'm so very proud of our graduating seniors — they will do amazing things.' You can learn more about the Youth Empowerment Project on the CFO website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
