I am one in a million

March 2012

Youth unemployment is at a record high, affecting over one million young people in the UK. It is a particular problem in the most deprived areas of England, where the unemployment rate among 16-24 years is over 30%. Academic studies have shown that extended spells of unemployment have harmful effects on young people’s future prospects that persist for at least 20 years, as well as being a huge waste of talent and productivity.

This study was undertaken by Church Urban Fund and Frontier Youth Trust on behalf of Churches Together for England. Eighteen focus groups – involving over 100 young people - were held with youth projects across the country, at locations including Weston Super-Mare, Tottenham, Birmingham, Salford and Middlesbrough.

Young people were encouraged to talk about their experiences of unemployment and identify changes that would help people like them.

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