Young jobless feel 'ignored' decades after Jarrow March

Ninety years ago, 200 unemployed men from Jarrow in South Tyneside set off on an almost month-long march to Westminster pleading for jobs after the local shipyard closed. It proved fruitless. Now, there is a new national crusade, to try to find a future for the nearly one million young people not in education, employment or training.

"I wouldn't even mind if I got like a rejection email, at least that way I know that something's wrong," says 19-year-old Keir Gulia.

After completing a Level 2 qualification in light vehicle repair and maintenance, he hopes to become a mechanic.

But he says he feels "ignored" by employers, having received no responses from several apprenticeships he has applied for.

Keir is one of nearly one million 16 to 24-year-olds classed as not in education, employment or training - or Neets as they have become known - and according to one report, the north-east of England has the highest rate.

He receives Universal Credit and attends Jarrow Job Centre, which is assisting him in finding an apprenticeship, including by paying for his provisional driving licence.

But "sitting at home" feels "terrible", Keir, from Hebburn, said.

"It feels like I'm just being ignored [by employers].

"I'd hoped if I got to college and did that two years [of training], they'd see it on my CV and be like, 'Oh, he's went through this, he'll know a bit of the gist'.

"It's completely the opposite."

Keir is not alone. In Jarrow town centre, there is a sign in the window of Jarrow Mindset offering drop-in mental health support specifically aimed at Neets.

Young people passing by a statue commemorating the 1936 Jarrow March gave their thoughts on what it was like trying to find a job.

"It's really hard," says Emma, 25, who has a masters degree and was out of work for three years before finding a job as a support worker.

"Everything I applied for, they would just email back saying 'you've been unsuccessful' or you'd get an interview and you'd hear nothing back.

"They never gave me any feedback. It's really frustrating, especially when you've got things like bills you need to pay.

"I think employers need to definitely give a reason when they email you back as to why they haven't took you on."

Tyler, 28, says she struggled to find a job and later gave up work as a teaching assistant due to childcare problems.

"When you go for a job they ask if you have experience, so if you don't have that experience, they're more than likely not going to take you on."

She believes there may be some "unfair stereotypes" stopping employers from giving young people jobs.

"Nowadays you see on social media how this generation is, and how they treat their elders - not many places are going to give an opportunity if that's all they are seeing.

"It needs to be more fair. If you're a young mam, give them that chance so they can work around childcare."

Even some in the healthcare sector are struggling to get hired, according to nurses Beth, 29, and Sarah, 28, who had just come off a nightshift.

"It is more difficult now for newly qualified nurses, because there's not the funding for them," Beth says.

"We knew lots of people who did three years of training and qualified and couldn't get jobs. It's the same for the doctors."

Parked near the statue, Jim Hobbs, 72, born and bred in Jarrow, stops with a tear in his eye and looks on.

"My dad was a Jarrow Marcher, Jimmy Hobbs, and I'm proud of him and what more can I say?

"The North East is like a forgotten place. There's no jobs. I was pretty lucky, I worked all of my life."

At Labour's annual conference, Chancellor John Healey, making reference to the Jarrow Crusade, unveiled proposed reforms to help "generation jeopardy move to generation hope".

One announcement was the expansion of a Local Apprenticeships Service for England's mayors, which Healey said would deliver thousands more apprenticeships for young people.

So what barriers are young people facing?

Samantha, 20, spent 10 months job hunting before finding employment in the civil service.

She says employers need to be "more willing" to give young people who do not have experience a chance.

"A lot of young people do want to work," she said. "How am I meant to get experience if you're just turning me away?

"If they're applying, and they actually want to do the job, I think that'll show in the early days."

The marchers failed to achieve what they set out to do in 1936, although many believe their legacy continues.

To coincide with the anniversary, a £250,000 local fund has been set up to inspire the next generation of workers in Jarrow.

The Jarrow March Next Steps Fund will offer small grants to young people aged 12 to 18 over the next 10 years, to help "open doors" to employment.

Young people will be able to apply for funding to help with bus fares to get to work experience or training, clothes for interviews, or equipment and tools needed to hone skills.

Susan Wear, chair of neighbourhood board Jarrow Forward, said the town has moved on since 1936 and is becoming a "thriving" place, with opportunities for young people and employers.

"It's time to be more hopeful and optimistic on behalf of young people," she said.

Preparing children for the world of work well before they finish school is a philosophy shared by former Darlington MP and minister Alan Milburn, who is leading a government-commissioned report into young people and work.

The final instalment, which will set out recommendations of how the government can help Neets, is due to be published soon.

Additional reporting by Chris Robinson.

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