A new social research project will help to tackle youth unemployment

The Young Foundation, Youth Futures Foundations and The Mohn Westlakehave joined together for a new project which will see 30 formerly unemployed young people be trained as peer researchers.

The scheme comes at a time when young people are hardest hit by the impact of the pandemic and the economy.

Recent market data shows that unemployment for 18-24 year-olds is at a five year high.

In the first phase of the programme, the cohort will undertake research in their local communities.

Phase two will be commissioned by the Future Voices Group, a group of 13 young ambassadors who act as advocates for young people on the issue of employment.

In phase three, once the cohort has developed their research skills further, they will have the freedom to research issues that are important to them and create a research project of their own.

Through the research fieldwork undertaken, the project will document the lived experiences of up to a further 450 young people.

Once the peer researchers have been trained, and have worked on a commissioned research project through this programme they will remain part of The Young Foundation’s Peer Research Network and able to access further work opportunities as projects arise.

Helen Goulden, CEO at The Young Foundation, said: ‘This is a unique opportunity to support young people to build solid employment skills and networks, at the same time as tapping into their desire to create positive social change in their communities. We know that the social research sector is nowhere near as diverse as it should be – and this scheme has opened up an entirely new channel to bring more diverse talent into the sector.

‘My hope is that this is the start of something much bigger – and I want to publicly thank our first cohort Kickstart Researchers for bringing so much energy and dynamism to The Young Foundation.’

Photo credit – Alexis Brown