YHA (Youth Hostel Association) to provide work placements for NEET young people

YHA to provide around 80 work placements in partnership with MtW for young people who are not in education, employment or training over the next year

YHA (England & Wales), the youth charity that transforms young lives through travel and adventure, has announced today that it is to partner with UK work-placement charity, Movement to Work (MtW), to provide work placements and other job opportunities for young people.

YHA already provides work placements through its network of 153 youth hostels and head office in Matlock, Derbyshire, but wants to widen its reach and have greater impact by using MtW’s network to share experience and best practice.

Through MtW, YHA aims to provide around 80 placements each year across its administrative functions and hostels. Many of these will lead to jobs within YHA. Where positions are not available, the experience and training will help young people find employment elsewhere.

The partnership with MtW is one of a number YHA is developing ahead of the launch of its new 10-year strategy in 2020. The strategy will see the youth charity work with a range of partners to support YHA’s shared goal to improve health, bring communities together, promote diversity and inclusion and improve the life-chances of those at a disadvantage.

MtW is a collaboration of UK employers which tackle long-term youth unemployment through high-quality work experience and other opportunities. 80,000 work placements have been made possible by employers, charities and Government working together through MtW; 50% of those completing placements have taken up meaningful careers or gone back into education.

MtW’s employer members include Accenture, BAE Systems, Barclays, BT, BUPA, Centrica, the Department for Work and Pensions, Diageo, HSBC, Marks and Spencer, Marriott International, NHS, Tesco, Unilever and Wates, amongst others.

YHA’s purpose is to help all, especially young people of limited means. The organisation’s workforce comprises many young people; 35% are under 26. It works with schools, further education providers and youth charities to provide opportunities to build life skills and improve employability. Historically this has been through volunteering, apprenticeships, work-experience as well as jobs at YHA. Its hostel placements help young people develop valuable life skills, to help them live independently while YHA’s volunteering programmes have been structured to enable young people gain the skills employers’ need.

Working with MtW, employers create work experience placements for unemployed young people between 16-30 years of age, particularly those who have been out of work, education or training for some time. MtW works with charity partners that specialise in supporting people and addressing specific barriers to work, including long-term unemployment, homelessness, mental health and young offenders. These charities provide a pipeline of young people who will benefit from a work placement.

James Ashall, Movement to Work’s chief executive, said:

“No matter how many employment records are broken, youth unemployment remains stubbornly high. And there are thousands of young people who need extra support to get on the employment ladder who haven’t been in employment or training for some time. Employers like YHA help make a difference to so many of these young people who can become loyal, valued employees, who help raise the morale of those already employed.”

James Blake, Chief Executive of YHA (England & Wales) said:

“For nearly 90 years YHA has been committed to transforming young lives, whether it’s the lives of those who stay with us or work for us. But there are many young people who face particular challenges to getting jobs and it is absolutely key that society strives for new ways to support them into secure careers. Through YHA and Movement to Work placements they can build ambition, have a more positive outlook and show their true talent.  We feel passionately about being part of the vision for civil society. By partnering with MtW we can help unemployed young people gain meaningful work experience and training that will help them rewrite a better future for themselves. “