Young people respond to latest unemployment figures

Following on from David Lammy’s comments on latest unemployment figures revealing that 55 per cent of British black males aged 16-24 are unemployed, (double the figure in 2008), Richard Godwin’s article in the Evening Standard on Tuesday explores some reasons why this may be the case; the associated stereotypes, labelling and common problems felt by young black males in Hackney.

Godwin interviews a number of young people at the Dalston Job Centre asking why youth unemployment is so high in the black community. A common response is that there is simply a lack of jobs for young black people in the area, but there is clearly frustration for other reasons too- “it’s just a fact that there are certain jobs that are never going to be available for black people, ’cos of the stereotype thing”.   The sense of weariness, apathy and hopelessness, rather than anger, shown by the respondents at the lack of opportunities available to them is both frightening and distressing.

Also disappointing is the lack of willingness shown by employers to consider applicants with criminal records “I would take any job, I don’t really care, I’ll take any job — but once you get a criminal record, even a minor criminal record, it’s hard to get any jobs.” How can these men be expected to turn their lives around if we won’t give them a second chance?

Even those without criminal records find it hard to get employers to consider them as one interviewee points out; black youths are often stereotyped as being involved in crime and gang violence. This is an image created by a minority of people in isolated, yet high profile, incidents, such as the summer riots of 2011. “People that’s in gangs and that is just making it bad for everyone else who ain’t. They’re making the stereotype.”

Is this what the future holds for the young people of ReachOut! and east London? Not much to look forward to if it is, but we can do something about it.  There are two things that all young people need to get into employment – the right skills and the right attitude.  Most of us learn these things at school and from parents and older siblings, however many young people find it difficult to get on in formal education and sadly do not have enough positive role models in their lives to outweigh the negative, often resulting in a life of crime and disillusionment.  ReachOut! aims to provide these young people with the opportunity to develop their academic skills and attitude through the support of a mentor at the ReachOut! Academy. If you have a couple of hours spare a week, perhaps you could join the hundred or so ReachOut! mentors helping to make the outlook more positive for these young people. 

By Jacob Mohun

Links
Become a mentor - http://www.reachoutuk.org/HTML/Mentor/become_mentor.html
Young, shafted and black - full article - http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/lifestyle/london-life/young-shafted-and-black-7585450.html
ReachOut! Academy- http://www.reachoutuk.org/HTML/Projects/LONDONROACADEMY.html

David Lammy advocates projects like the ReachOut! Academy

MP for Tottenham, David Lammy, wrote in the London Evening Standard of the shocking ‘almost 56 per cent of young black men [who] have no job.’

This is particularly relevant to London still coming to terms with last summer’s events by which ReachOut!’s own Summer Programme was disturbed. As part of attempts to understand the socioeconomic environment that may have led to the riots, Lammy suggests that the number of young black unemployed men ‘was a backdrop’ to the events.

He also speaks of family and the effect that worklessness can have on everyone touched by unemployment, especially younger members; ‘the lives of children are thrown into turmoil as they struggle in overcrowded homes, poor schools and poverty.’ ReachOut!’s projects works directly with these youngsters, providing weekly mentoring schemes to primary and secondary pupils – one-to-one attention that is so valuable to their development.

Lammy calls for mentoring schemes such as our ReachOut! Academy to provide role models for some of the worst affected –

‘Instead of City suits painting school fences on corporate social responsibility days, they should be inside the classroom to mentor these children about work and success. The message to Londoners is that helping these young men doesn’t just mean access to your cheque book but to your time.’

The ReachOut! Academy works with professionals who volunteer to mentor children in Hackney for a couple of hours each week. The mentors give up their time (not their money) to help children with maths, English and sports. Whilst the projects are fun and engaging, they are clear in their aims - to provide a safe environment for disadvantaged young people to fulfill their potential.

Lammy’s piece can be found here: http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/comment/comment/the-waste-of-keeping-young-black-men-out-of-jobs-7564940.html
Well worth a read.

By Steph Pickerill

ReachOut! to Uganda!

The year 6 girls from Redlands Primary School in Tower Hamlets have had a busy few weeks at the ReachOut! Club...

Ugandan Penpals!

Last Thursday the girls received replies from their penpals in Ryabirengye Primary School in Uganda! They received photos, drawings and letters from their penpals who live very different lives, in a small village in near Kabale in South West Uganda.

The girls heard about how many of the Ugandan children owned cows, chickens, goats and more, and spent their time out of school collecting water and helping with the animals. They then enjoyed trying to respond to questions such as, "what is ice cream?"! The girls have made some good friends through the penpal system and many of them even asked if they could meet up . . . but after looking at the globe, we all realised Uganda is very far away!

ReachOut! goes green

The ReachOut! Redlands girls have been recycling juice cartons to make brand new wallets! After choosing from apple, orange, grape and more the girls used their excellent origami skills to make fully usable wallets.

Some said they would give them as gifts, but most chose to use them themselves. A few lucky mentors even managed to get their own wallets and have had many compliments for their stylish new accessory.

Paper Maché Bowls
This week the girls got their hands dirty making paper maché bowls. Using the end of a balloon as a mould to stick the paper maché on, they made bowl shapes, which will be dried and ready to paint by next week.


The mentors also joined in and made themselves a bowl too, it all got very messy but was a lot of fun! Watch this space to see the finished products!

By Rosy Smith
Redlands ReachOut! Club Project Leader

What a mess!

The ReachOut! Club at Shacklewell Primary School had a messy class this week! After learning about how to apply mathematics to proportions and fractions in recipes, the girls put their chosen recipe – Eton mess – to the test!

After crushing meringue, whipping the cream (from scratch!) and slicing strawberries and raspberries, the results were very tasty looking!

Some girls had the strength to save it for after their dinners, so they could show off their culinary skills at home, but most couldn’t help but devour their pudding only seconds after its creation! Yum!

Harriet (Chipie) Melesi
Shacklewell ReachOut! Club Project

Leader