Disadvantaged young people under the age of 25 should be given theÌýopportunity to work for six months in a paid placement around theÌýcountry, academy chains and charities have suggested.
The coalition, led by the higher education charity the UPP Foundation, suggests that the government should create a Community Leadership Academy scheme,Ìýwhich would offer 75,000 young people work placements to address theÌýrisk of mass youth unemployment.
The scheme –Ìýwhich they suggest is funded at £500 million per year – could create a "civic army" ofÌýyoung people to carry out work to support local communities, while giving them 20 per cent off-the-job support for their own development.
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Young people who have left education and are not in work or trainingÌýwould be able to be employed full time, or current university studentsÌýcould take part in the scheme part time.
The report by the coalition also calls for the governmentÌýto increase the pupil premium throughout the next academic year andÌýextend it to young people aged 16-18 in schools and colleges.
The group says the funding could be spent on provision for tutoring orÌýcatch-up academic support following widespread school closures owingÌýtoÌýCovid-19.
Rising number of NEET young people
It comes after figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS)Ìýshowed that the number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET)Ìýincreased by 6,000 in the first quarter of the year,Ìýeven before the impact of coronavirus took effect.
There were an estimated 771,000 young peopleÌýaged 16-24Ìýin the UKÌýclassed as NEET in January to March –Ìý6,000 more than the sameÌýperiod in 2019.
Richard Brabner, the director of the UPP Foundation, said: "Whether itÌýis unemployment or disruption to education, it is becoming increasinglyÌýclear that the effects of Covid meanÌýyoung people are faced with anÌýunprecedented combination of challenges that will continue even afterÌýschools, colleges and universities reopen.
"The renewed civic action inspired by this crisis should be seized uponÌýto help overcome them. Up and down the country, we've seen a swell ofÌýlocal community support to help the NHS and vulnerable people.
"By funding a civic army of 75,000 young people, we could utilise thisÌýcommunity endeavour to empower and pay them to support their local areas –Ìý'levelling up' disadvantaged young people and communities alike."
