Fedcap Launches Youth Mentoring Program to Tackle Rising NEET Levels for People Under 25 in the UK

England, United Kingdom—Fedcap today announced a pilot youth mentoring program that will see volunteers from businesses and local communities act as positive role models for under-25s. The launch comes during National Careers Week and amid a sharp rise in young people not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET), highlighted in a recent report by Fedcap’s Community Impact Policy Institute.

Volunteers will be matched with around 30 young people aged 18–24 based on mutual interests and will aim to develop positive personal relationships to help normalize fears about work and adult life, and provide space to talk informally about social anxieties.

It is the first of a range of initiatives Fedcap has been developing by working alongside young people in a series of focus groups and workshops, to complement our ongoing work to support individuals into sustainable employment.

“We’re seeing an increasing number of young people struggling to secure work in today’s job market,” said Susan Paterson, Executive Director of Fedcap Employment. “From listening to young people, the same two themes keep being repeated—a lack of work experience and awareness; and social anxiety and fear of the workplace.”

Fedcap has found that structural shifts in the labor market have reduced the informal entry points that once helped young people build experience and confidence. Weekend jobs, entry-level roles, and early workplace exposure have declined in many areas, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pilot youth mentoring program, which will initially be rolled out across South Central England, will be bolstered by Fedcap-initiated employer awareness days—giving young people the chance to spend time inside real organizations, see what a typical working day looks like, and help demystify the workplace.

Susan added: “Many young people simply don’t know what different jobs look like in reality, or the variety of career paths available to them. For many, the idea of being in a workplace feels intimidating and overwhelming. This isn’t about motivation—it’s about confidence, exposure, and feeling like they belong.”

This follows a recent report by Fedcap’s Community Impact Policy Institute, recommending ways to end youth inactivity which highlighted the need for universal access to meaningful work experience to help young people improve their economic mobility.

“Recommendations to End Youth Inactivity in the UK: A National Framework for Re-Engagement” builds on Fedcap’s integrated approach to supporting young people to improve their economic mobility—providing structured, personalized support that combines employability services, skills development, and health interventions.