Future Forward

Through Future Forward, we provided personalised support to NEET young people in West Yorkshire facing multiple and complex barriers to employment, education or training. Working in partnership with grassroots organisations, we helped participants to move towards a more positive future through a range of pilot projects:

• edt Work Experience – securing placements with local employers
• Building Healthy Futures – improving physical and mental wellbeing
• Uplift – supporting mental health and increasing resilience
• Aspire Horizons – for those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
• Money Buddies – empowering participants to take ownership of their finances
• Fast Track to Success – a holistic approach to supporting young people.

We also successfully tested two innovative new interventions:

• The Future Forward Housing Pilot – helping NEET young people to access housing
• The Future Forward Mobility Pilot – tackling a variety of transport issues.

In addition, we mapped and evaluated NEET provision across West Yorkshire, while creating a professional support network and fostering stakeholder collaboration through communities of practice (CoP) events.

Impact in numbers

• 253 NEET people aged 16 to 24 were supported
• 95% of participants said they had developed new skills
• 95% said they would recommend the programme to others
• 75% of CoP event attendees said their understanding of the challenges young people face had improved

"I was treated with so much respect and had help that was based on my needs, achievements and future goals. I would highly recommend this programme again as it has not only helped me but the people I have recommended too."

- Future Forward participant

A framework for the future

Based on the evidence and knowledge we gained from Future Forward, we developed a new NEET Quality Framework for West Yorkshire. The framework offers a valuable guide to defining what good practice looks like. It also provides councils and combined authorities with practical tools to drive better coordination, more inclusive support, and youth-centred planning – which will ultimately lead to better outcomes for NEET young people in the future.