Challenge: High NEET rates and inconsistent, constrained provision 

West Yorkshire has long recorded disproportionately high NEET rates. Despite considerable investment in youth support services, the overall NEET rate remained above the national average, with post-COVID-19 pandemic pressures further exacerbating youth disengagement, mental health issues, and school exclusions.   

One major structural issue for WYCA was the fragmented nature of existing provision. Local authorities, training providers, and voluntary sector organisations often did great work, but this was not always coordinated, with no unifying framework to coordinate support or measure impact. This made it difficult to ensure consistent, holistic support across the region. Additionally, many economically inactive young people experienced complex barriers that existing services often struggled to address fully within the scope of mainstream provision.   

Solution: Personalised support grounded in evidence and built to last 

We worked collaboratively with WYCA to design, deliver, and adapt the programme’s approaches. Youth voice was placed at the heart of programme design and evaluation through focus groups and interactive workshops. The programme worked closely with 310 young people who were furthest from the labour market, facing barriers including poor mental health, unstable housing, financial hardship, and a lack of access to transport, childcare, or local opportunities. 

Participants received holistic one-to-one support from trained advisers and benefited from access to a flexible fund to reduce digital, transport, and financial barriers. Working with local partners, we took a holistic, small-steps approach to our support, enabling young people to re-engage on their own terms. 

Future Forward also sought to generate system-wide learning, helping WYCA to develop a scalable, evidence-based model for future provision. Three key strategic assets were created: 

  • a comprehensive NEET Provision Mapping Report  
  • an evidence-informed NEET Quality Framework for West Yorkshire  
  • a ‘What Works Well for NEETs’ research paper, grounded in youth voice and practitioner insight. 

Impact: More young people in work and a better understanding of NEET realities 

Among case study participants, 56% secured permanent employment and 44% achieved training or qualifications. Importantly, 80% reported improved confidence, and 28% noted positive mental health gains.  

By capturing rich quantitative and qualitative evidence, including participant voice, distance-travelled metrics, and outcomes data, Future Forward enabled WYCA to better understand the lived realities of NEET young people. The Quality Framework now serves as a practical tool for WYCA to embed good practice and inform consistent, joined-up provision for 16 to 24-year-olds across West Yorkshire. 

The programme also addressed long-standing data gaps, which included a reduction of the number of young people with a ‘Not Known’ status for the Leeds Pathways Team by 17% – well above the 10% target. 

Programmes like Future Forward that are holistic, relational, and adaptable require investment beyond short pilot cycles to achieve lasting impact. The next step is to embed and scale this approach, regionally and beyond, so that no young person is left behind.