A GROUP of "NEET" young people in the Isle of Man are getting ready to enter the world of work.
They have completed the first part of a training programme which is designed to help those who are not in education, employment or training (NEET).
The programme, which is run by the Department of Economic Development, aims to equip young people with the skills they need to progress in life.
Today (February 10) the 12 young people, aged between 15 and 24, took part in a "Dragon's Den" style challenge where they pitched business ideas to a panel of judges.
The judges – including Howard Parkin (Manx National Heritage), Elanna Swinden (Sefton Group), Dawn Maddrell (Department of Community, Culture and Leisure) and Tony Wild MLC – were asked to choose which ideas to "invest" in.
Some of the ideas put forward included a new acoustic band that wanted to "put the Isle of Man on the map" and a dance school business which wanted to act as a sanctuary for young people.
Angelena Bowden from Transform Training delivered the course. She said that all of the young people had come with "some kind of barrier" including bad experiences in education, emotional and psychological issues, learning difficulties, low self esteem and a lack of confidence.
She explained: "When you're young your confidence takes knocks and they've had quite a few knocks. I'm very in tune with young people's psychology so I deliver the programme to take into account those needs so I'm building them up from the bottom."
Angelena said she didn't like the use of the term NEET which originated from the UK in 1999.
She said: "The problem with the term is that it's synonymous with these things – that they're lazy, they’re disengaged, they’re workshy, they’re benefit scroungers.
"As a psychologist I know that if you stick a label on somebody they will live up to that. If we keep saying that young people are lazy and work-shy then they will be because we're not giving them any aspiration and we are not believing in them.
"Disengagement at this age is disastrous. It's disastrous on a personal level, it's disastrous for the community and it will be disastrous for the Isle of Man."
A number of the young people who took part on the course will now start a six week practical work placement within the hospitality sector which could lead to permanent employment if they impress.
Andrew Bridson, who is 17, will be one of the young people starting work. Speaking about his involvement in the training programme he said: "Don't leave school to early or you might end up in a job that you might hate.
"I left school last year and I ended up going straight into work too early. I didn't actually think ahead to the future. It's been really hard trying to get a job. This programme has helped and now I know what I'm going to do in the future."
Another participant, 20 year old Lizzie Irwin, took the course after struggling to find a job.
She explained: "I started off in hotel work – I've done it for about three years now – and in October my hotel work ended because it was a seasonal contract. After that I found it really hard to get back into work in another job.
"I was sort of pushed towards this course and I came along not knowing what to expect. It's been such a helpful course to be on, it's helped me a lot and given us a lot of life skills.
"I'm due to start work in a couple of weeks which is really good. In the future I'm aiming to be a hotel manager - I might be about 40 but I will get there."
Angelena added that the NEET stereotype could no longer be applied to the young people who have taken part on the course.
She continued: "They (the young people) would have probably fitted the stereotype when they first came because nobody had put the energy and effort into them as individuals but it goes to show what you can do.
"It's fun, it's enabling, it's facilitating and they've all really enjoyed it. We want more people to come forward."
Anyone interested in signing up to one of the government run NEET programmes should contact the Department of Economic Development by visiting www.gov.im/ded.
