Business Leaders to tackle Youth Unemployment at #GMStillHidden Conference
The issue of youth unemployment across Greater Manchester will be addressed at Greater Manchester Talent Match’s ‘Still Hidden’ conference, taking place on 11th October at Gorton Monastery.
Confirmed speakers for the event include:
- Dawn Austwick, Chief Executive of Big Lottery Fund
- Kate Green, MP for Stretford and Urmston and Commissioner for Learning & Work Institute Youth Commission
- Councillor Sue Murphy, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council
- Laura-Jane Rawlings, Chief Executive of Youth Employment UK
- Edna Robinson, Chair of the Peoples’ Powerhouse
- Councillor Tamoor Tariq, Chair of GM Police and Crime Panel
Influencers and leaders from across all sectors – including local businesses, the public sector, charities, social enterprises, MPs and parliamentarians – are encouraged to attend to learn how they can help to provide vital support young people furthest from employment.
A Big Lottery-funded programme, Greater Manchester Talent Match brings together the private, public and voluntary sectors to support young people aged 18 to 24 who have not been in employment, education or training for twelve months or more, and who need extra support to help them along their pathway to work. Almost 2,000 young people will have been supported through the scheme by the time it comes to a close in December 2018.
The conference not only marks the close of the programme, but will also see GM Talent Match launch its ‘Still Hidden’ report – a series of recommendations about the next steps to further support the 15,000 hidden young people in Greater Manchester. This group are not on benefits or in employment, training or education, and they receive no statutory support.
The event will cover the programme’s key learning, highlighting proven methods of effectively engaging young people through a highly personalised, holistic approach that supports them to overcome personal and practical barriers to employment. These barriers include: lack of access to mental health support; uncertainty about what careers support is available, and lack of access to entry level opportunities.
A range workshops will provide the opportunity to further discuss Greater Manchester Talent match’s experiences of working with young people, community sector organisations and employers across Greater Manchester, and delve deeper into the Still Hidden report.
Dawn Austwick, Chief Executive of the Big Lottery Fund, said: “I am delighted to be one of the speakers at the ‘Still Hidden’ conference. Talent Match is a national programme, but central to the programme’s approach is a belief in the ability of young people to improve their own circumstances and life chances with targeted support and personalised solutions; there is no standardised approach.
“This conference will showcase how the young people of Greater Manchester have helped to shape an approach which targets the issues that are most important to them, as well as look at how that positive impact can be sustained.”
Marie Graham, Greater Manchester Talent Match, added: “We know we’ve made a huge difference to the lives of young people over the past five years, but we also know a lot needs to change. Our Still Hidden conference is not just about marking the end of our programme, but discussing what needs to happen next.
“We want people who can help us create a legacy of lasting change to join us at the conference. Businesses, voluntary and community organisations, commissioners and policy makers all have a role to play if we are to continue to unlock the potential of all young people and their communities in Greater Manchester.”
The Still Hidden conference takes place at Gorton Monastery on 11th October, 2018. Click here for further information and tickets.
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