COULD the recession lead to a lost generation in Braintree?

A worrying number of young people are not in education, work or training in the district and the number of those claiming Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) has increased in the last year.

In September, 840 young people aged 18 to 24 were on the dole, equivalent to just under a third of all claimants across all age groups.

This is less than other neighbouring districts, such as Colchester where 1,005 young people were claiming JSA, Tendring with 1,115 and Chelmsford, which had 860.

However, the Braintree figure is much higher than it was in January, when there were 685 claimants, and is almost double the 455 in September last year.

A spokesman for careers advice service Connexions said the number of 16 to 18 year olds who were NEET (not in education, employment or training) was 14.4 per cent at the end of September, compared to the total number of young people previously educated in the Braintree and Witham district.

This is up on the 11.8 per cent reported in September last year, but a slight drop of 1.2 per cent on the figure reported at the end of August.

But despite the stark statistics, moves are being made to help those youngsters have a brighter future.

The Connexions spokesman said: "This reduction in young people registered as NEET is encouraging in this difficult economic climate.

"Integrated Youth Service staff continue to ensure that all young people are given current individually tailored information advice and guidance to support them at critical transition points.

"The team are working hard to promote young people within the wider community, in particular liaising with local employers and post 16 education and training providers to help secure relevant, accessible opportunities for the district's future workforce."

Braintree College is also planning to offer a wider choice of courses to suit the aspirations of young people.

Interim principal Jim Addison has spoken of his commitment to working with businesses to secure more apprenticeships for local young people.

“We have started discussions with local employers about the opportunities now available for training across a range of vocational qualifications.

“We recognise that young people leaving school may not have always finalised their future career choice. We need to be more flexible in our approach to the length and start times of courses.

"We are, for example, offering an additional full-time course in bricklaying starting in January 2010.”

Another area where the college is seeking to increase its provision is at entry level and Level 1 to provide greater opportunities for young people to progress into further education.

Mr Addison said: “Working with our neighbouring schools, we are developing more provision for 14 to 19 year olds, providing opportunities for learners to gain practical, vocationally relevant skills in order to enhance their future work options.”

The college already runs its Youth East Programme, which is aimed at youngsters who are not working or in training or education.

A group have recently achieved their BTEC Work Skills qualification after completing a six week enterprise skills course, which has given them practical experience that will help them into employment.

On November 4, the young people put their skills and knowledge into practice at a special enterprise day in Witham town centre, where they sold products they had made to members of the public.

They included homemade chocolates and bath bombs, decorated candles and Christmas cards, which raised over £100 for their chosen charities, Help for Heroes and Cancer Research UK.

Lisa Whitworth, one of the young people taking part, said: “We thought it was good to sell all the things we made and get involved with others. It was really good raising money for charities and meeting new people was fun.”

Sue Turnbull, programme area manager at Braintree College's Witham campus said: “The youngsters learned a range of valuable skills including effective communication, team work, planning and budgeting, making products, setting up a stall and selling products.

"They did their own market research on the types of products customers in Witham would buy and how much they would spend.

"The enterprise skills course has been challenging and exciting for the youngsters and they have really gelled as a team.

"The course has given them skills and confidence to progress further and we are in discussion with each of the learners about the opportunities available to them, including progression into further learning or into an apprenticeship programme.

"This project has been such a success that we would like some of the current Youth East team to mentor future groups of young learners.”

* Young people not in education, training or employment who would like more information about the enterprise skills course at Braintree College can contact Emma Brown, Youth East coordinator, on 01376 521411.