Your say / Bristol Mayoral Elections 2021
‘I will make sure young people are at the heart of economic recovery’
As we begin to see the light at the end of the lockdown tunnel, another shadow looms: youth unemployment. The latest figures for the UK show joblessness at a five-year high of 5.1 per cent, and the age group most affected are those under 25 years old.
For this reason, if I am elected as mayor, I intend to double support for young people to help them get into work.
Parts of our economy have been crushed and will struggle to bounce back. There is a real danger that unemployment will rise further and that the economy will take years to grow back.
is needed now More than ever
Those at the start of their careers are in the most danger of losing out. Young people who have struggled through the final year of their education, who have no experience, and who are looking for their first jobs – often in the worst-hit industries such as hospitality – will be left behind. Bristol City Council, like other local authorities across the country, are expecting to see youth unemployment double in the coming months and years.
Behind each statistic is a young life that hasn’t got started, a young person who will find it harder to get the experience they need and to reach their potential. That is not fair.
As the CEO of Creative Youth Network, the largest youth services organisation of its type in Britain, I see how much energy and creativity our young people have. They are committed to Bristol and want to play their part in making it a great place to live. They want their lives to get going.
As mayor, I will prioritise our economic recovery. It will be the first thing in my in-tray. We need to rebuild our city and make sure it thrives.
I will make sure young people are at the heart of that economic recovery and will have the opportunities they deserve. I want to give them the chance to take their first step in their working life and into the future they dream of.
If I am elected mayor I will double the support Bristol City Council offers to young people. There are already dedicated teams of careers advisors and support staff in schools and youth centres. They offer support for everything from writing a CV to building young people’s confidence. They support young people into apprenticeships, new jobs and training. They help build the essential skills and qualities young people need to get a job or training. But if we are likely to see youth unemployment rise, then we must match that with more staff and resources to give young people the advice and guidance they need to get into work and education.
I see every day how a good advisor can make a difference to a young person’s life. Advisors broaden horizons and help young people build the confidence they need to get their first job. By investing in support, apprenticeships and careers guidance that the council funds in Bristol we can make sure young people can make the most of our economic recovery.
Sandy Hore-Ruthven is the Green candidate for the role of Bristol mayor
Main photo courtesy of Creative youth Network
Read more: ‘The impact of the past year on young people has been profound’
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