Just under one-fifth of the long-term NEET young people eligible to take part in the Activity Agreement Pilots (AA) actually did so. Of those that took part we saw a small but positive impact.
The biggest change was in the take-up of personal development activities
30% of participants took up personal development activities such as confidence building and healthy living in the 12 months after becoming NEET. Without AA, this figure would have been just 4%.
A small percentage of participants entered training
As a result of AA, around 3% entered work-based training. Around 7% took up training towards a qualification.
AA had a small but positive impact on attitudes
Between 5% and 10% demonstrated more positive attitudes towards education, employment and the future.
Work-related activities were the most popular
72% took part in work-related activities such as work experience and work taster courses. 64% took up personal development activities and 61% participated in activities related to formal qualifications or basic skills.
Young people left the programme before it finished
AA pilots were designed to last for 20 weeks. Around two in five participants left the pilots early. Half of these early leavers did so because they were not enjoying their activities or other aspects of the pilot. However, one in three left early to enter work or study.