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The writer, the chairman of the British Social Mobility Commission, is the main and executive director of Blackpool and Fylde College
Ben is 20 years old and lives in a homeless hostel in Blackpool. I first met him when I joined Blackpool and Fylde College last summer. He told me that he asked him to leave his family home, ending up in a temporary shelter, surrounded by adults with serious drug and alcohol problems. He graduated from college before his life was demolished – now he wanted to go back and go back to study. His ambition was to get an apartment and a decent job and have a “appropriate” family.
This story is unfortunately too familiar – and a good illustration of what the conventional policy of social mobility is wrong. If Ben was an academic successful, many charity organizations would be delighted if he had him on their programs, offering training, assistance in university applications, interviews and visits, with a network of support to “champions” and anything else, his background failed to provide.
But he does not fit this profile. And in sharp opposition to the initiatives of “Expanding Participation”, which stimulates the entrance to the university, support for people like Ben is rare and messy. The Government calls them “Neets” (not in employment, education or training), and this group of almost 1 million is one of every eight years from 16 to 24 years of age.
There is no obvious network of charity organizations that are labeled for Neets, and public interventions are fragmented. Liability for Noet recognition and support from 16 to 19 years in education and training sits with local authorities, which have little capacity to design or deliver interventions. In the meantime, 19 to 24-year-olds are under the Department of Job and Pensions, a completely different agency with a limited “service” that directs them to work or training. Missing from what youth need to start a working life.
Part of the country will be numerous brave efforts to help. But such initiatives have no resources social mobility Charity organizations for students in an unfavorable position that are academically capable. Even if they are, there is no easy way to deal with challenges such as family breakup and community.
Posindustrial Age brought a widespread widespread Social changeto which cities are better equipped to react from cities. The old term “community” does not stick to many.
In Blackpool, there is a strong economy of visitors and encouraging signs of regeneration. But it also has the legacy of former Pansian Houses-Multiple Customization Powerhoods, and poorly quality private rental subsidizing our dysfunctional well-being system. Leaving his family has drawn Ben into this blurry world: for a young person, a series of risks involving alcohol, drugs and crime can undermine their potential to manage well.
Therefore, the barriers of social mobility in the UK are much more complex and harder than the main discussion implies. In our recent report, the “generation of innovation”, we have called for policies to promote social mobility aligned with real challenges, starting with geographical inequality. Education is always important, not just to develop skills. Universities translate research into business applications and new ecosystems that support companies throughout the country, which all improves chances of life chances of life. But they are not enough – family and community are so influential in shaping individual outcomes. This is a big agenda, but it would truly improve opportunities for the majority.
If Ben was the only one who needed help, then ours might be enough. We found a friendly employer ready to give him the opportunity. It is now up to it to continue to appear and see the importance of this bounce stone. However, open funds employers can do their little in the support environment.
