Young adults “need Connexions”

A Connexion-style service should be extended to young people in
their 20s, says a government report.

The Social Exclusion Unit, set up by the prime minister, has
recommended that services for children and adults should merge into
each other to prevent vulnerable  young people falling into a gap
where they can’t get appropriate support. Connexions –
which currently has an age cut-off of 19 for young people without
special needs – would be valuable to many young people in
their twenties, it says in an interim report on transitions to
adulthood.

There were 750,000 young people between ages 16 to 24 not in
employment, education or training last year, and up to one in five
young people in that age group have a mental health problem.

Children’s Trusts – which focus on integrating
services for children and young people – must make sure that
support for young people moving into adulthood is also
well-managed, says the SEU.

The inquiry also found that many vulnerable young people get no
reliable support from their families, and need a single mentor, key
worker or personal advisor to guide and advise them.

http://www.socialexclusion.gov.uk/