1. Snapshot of Focus Groups with Young People Not in Employment, Education or Training Presented by Alan Hayes

2. Aim To capture Young Peoples experience of being in NEET category, including causes & recommendations.

3. Who's included? Six Focus Groups from Greater Dublin & Cork Informal discussion on their experiences, thoughts, feelings related to Employment, Education & Training Over 30 young people not currently in Education, Employment, Training Average of 4 participants per focus group. Another 3/4 focus groups remaining 80% Male & 20% Female. Ages 15 – 23 (60% are 18+)

4. What they said... Social Welfare Overall negative sentiment, lack of empathy & understanding by staff. Feeling of being 'Looked down' upon. 'Treating it like it's their own money' Experiences of being 'bounced around' section to section. Experience of injuring yourself and being cut to €14.78 per week because not available to work.

5. Eduction Lack of availability.See what you want but it's full,must wait, meanwhile welfare ask why your not doing anything. Expelled or opting out, difficulty getting in elsewhere Mixed experiences in other education centres “Sitting in the kitchen all day, nobody wants to teach you” Done level 4 but can't do level 5 for 18 months

6. Scenario & Youth Guarantee 22 year old male undertakes a course as a Bar Technician/Mixologist. Gets grant of €250 which he matches to study Level 1. Wants to do Level 2, which employers expect,but costs €2000 and cannot find grant. An effective Youth Guarantee could prevent this by planning the path with the client from the start, anticipating road blocks.

7. Family “I want to contribute to housekeeping and I do, but it's a big chunk out of a small pot each week...” “...puts pressure on them, having to borrow money to survive” “...people gambling, hoping to get a few quid extra. Leads to problems... drinking and drugs” “Being at home all the time causes arguments, nowhere to go, if I do, get hassled from Gardai...”

8. If YOU were Minister for Magic wands? Provide relevant training for a job, not just to get you out of the welfare Entrepreneurship training with a can do attitude. Give males with children something extra. “Have a child, don't live together but with €100 PW it makes it extremely hard to do anything with the child when I have them” “Guaranteed job or other course when you finish one, don't just send you back on the labour”

9. Why the Youth Service? Feel listened to Help us find jobs and prepare for interviews It's something to do when there is nothing to do “Guarantee you its kept some of us out of prison” Cold nights, nowhere to go, have to get out of the house, call in for a cup of tea “...find out things that you don't in school”

10. The Future Want to have a trade that people need Be doing something where I don't have to sit still, that's not me That government services understand you and don't just treat you like a number To change how people with lots of money never lose and working class have it hard from birth People are treated the same

11. Thank You Web: www.AlanHayes.ie www.AlanHayes.ie Email: Hello@AlanHayes.ie