What is a NEET?

Most young people chose to remain in education at age 16. About 75% of 16 year olds chose this path. Others chose training schemes or get a job, which often includes training.

The rest (less than 10%) are NEET, which means: Young people Not in Education, Employment or Learning.

Connexions can help young people who are NEET move back into education, employment or training.

What if I become NEET?

Lots of people end up NEET from time to time. It might be for three weeks or three months, depending on how long you need. Common reasons include:

• Suffering an illness, bereavement or other setback
• Not gaining the grades you expected
• Not being sure what you want to do

With personal effort, the support of families and friends, and advice from Connexions, most young people can find something they want to do. It is important to keep focussed, positive and take advantage of opportunities. If there are things getting in the way, discuss them with your Connexions adviser. There is support available for all sorts of issues, from coping with a relative's addiction to building confidence.

• More about choices, finding a job, study options

Long term NEET

Some young people seem to be particularly at risk of becoming NEET for longer, or again and again. This might be related to difficulties in their life, or it might just be bad luck. Young men and young women are both at risk.

This is very bad for their future. Studies show that young people who remain NEET for more than six months have a much higher risk of all sorts of bad outcomes when they are an adult:

• More likely to be unemployed or have a low income
• More likely to have depression and mental health issues
• More likely to have a criminal record
• Less likely to have any qualifications
• More likely to suffer health problems or become a teenage parent

Because it's such a serious problem, there is lots of support available to help young people move back into education, employment or training. This might include support around particular issues, or more general programmes, like E2E, which get you used to routines, help you build skills, and let you try out different things.

You can access this support through Connexions.

Coping with being NEET

Just because you're NEET doesn't mean you have to suffer bad effects. Lots of people use time out creatively and to their future benefit. There are lots of ways to make the time you spend being NEET count:

• Volunteer: good for references and work experience
• Take part in activities: good for meeting new people and making contacts
• Get involved: use your time to fundraise, run campaigns, or have your say in other ways

Promoting events or volunteering at your local youth centre can help fill in gaps in your CV. Setting a weekly appointment at your local Connexions Centre can keep you focussed on looking for a suitable opportunity. Even simple things can help, like making sure you get enough sleep, keeping to a daily routine, and helping out around the house.

Experience: I didn't give up

I finished school last year but was confused on where to go from there, I didn’t want to go to college as I preferred to learn whilst in a job. [My connexions adviser] helped me through the rough times of getting a job and advised me to take evening courses in college which I took part in. Months went past but I didn’t give up, I regularly went to Howard to keep him and I updated, then I had an interview with a company for the role of trainee office administration work and I love it! - Boshra, 17