Newsletter
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Extern – Media Statement to Newsletter
1) What is the biggest obstacle to young people leaving the NEET category in Northern Ireland?
The Milburn Review Report brings into sharp focus the scale of the challenge facing young people across the UK, one that government and policymakers can no longer afford to ignore. It highlights is-sues that we are already seeing on the ground in Northern Ireland.
There is no single obstacle. Many young people in Northern Ireland face a combination of educational, economic, social and structural barriers, and these are often more significant for those with complex needs.
This includes young people who are care-experienced, living with disability or learning difficulties, managing mental health or addiction challenges, or experiencing poverty or social deprivation. For these young people, the issue is not simply unemployment - it is disconnection from opportunity altogether.
From Extern’s frontline service experience delivering programmes such as ‘Pathways’ and ‘Moving Forward, Moving On’, we consistently see that young people do want to move into work or training, but they often lack the confidence, stability and tailored support needed to take that first step. For many, progress is not linear, and rebuilding trust, routine and aspiration is a critical part of that jour-ney.
We would agree with the UK report that the system is not working as it should. There is often a dis-connect between education and the needs of employers, with young people not always leaving school equipped with the skills employers are looking for - such as communication, initiative and problem-solving.
There is also a lack of consistent, structured support for young people transitioning from education into employment or training. Our experience shows that where this support is available, outcomes im-prove – however access is not consistent across Northern Ireland.
This has been compounded by very recent cut in funding of a major funding stream to support people furthest from the workplace into employment; the UK Shared Prosperity Fund has become known as the Local Growth Fund and on 1st April 2026 this reduced fund significantly cut the level of support de-livered through the Community and Voluntary sector.
The 64% reduction in funding for 2026–27 has had a major impact, resulting in:
- · the loss of vital employability and inclusion programmes
- · reduced access to support for vulnerable young people
- · redundancies among experienced frontline staff
This withdrawal of support risks having long-term consequences for those who are already most at risk and increases demand on already stretched public services.
At the same time, wider economic pressures are tightening access to the labour market. Rising employer costs mean businesses can be less able to take on and train inexperienced young people, reducing opportunities to gain that vital first step into work.
In Northern Ireland, around 23,000 young people aged 16–24 are currently not in education, employment or training. Against that backdrop, the issue can often be less visible in public debate, and responses can feel fragmented across education, health and employment systems, rather than centred around the needs of the young person.
2) What is the single biggest ask in Northern Ireland to address this issue?
Extern is calling on the Northern Ireland Executive to respond with a joined-up, long-term approach, investing in early intervention and creating clear pathways into work for young people at risk of be-coming NEET.
This means:
· sustained funding for preventative and community-based programmes
· better integration between education, health and employment services
· a stronger focus on accessible entry routes into work, including training, apprenticeships and supported employment
If we are serious about avoiding a “lost generation”, we need to act earlier and more coherently. The evidence, from the UK report, Extern’s frontline services and from the wider Community and Voluntary Sector services in Northern Ireland, it is clear: the cost of inaction is far greater than the cost of intervention.