London is failing this recession-hit generation

Published: 18th March 2010

• IT is no secret that young people have borne the brunt of this recession.
Nearly one in five (19 per cent) young people living here in London is now on the dole – that’s 99,100 16 to 24-year-olds. But it is all too easy to dismiss these young people as “London’s lost generation”.
Each one of them has skills and talents that could make a real difference to this country.
The alarming new report from The Prince’s Trust and the Citi Foundation reveals that the capital could lose thousands of vital workers – nurses, teachers, doctors and social workers – if we fail to help young people find jobs. Young people in London are not only struggling to fulfil their ambitions, more than 27,500 of them are also missing out on necessities such as food and heating.
More than 39,000 fear they will never have enough money to provide for themselves or their children.
We can’t afford to stifle these young talents now, particularly as we emerge from the longest recession on record.
Those with fewest qualifications need our support the most, as they struggle to compete with unemployed graduates flooding the jobs market.
Only by investing in these young people now can we ensure this undiscovered generation isn’t lost forever.
ROSEMARY WATT-WYNESS Regional Director
The Prince’s Trust in London, 18 Park Square East,
London, NW1 4LH