Missing Connexions : The Career Dynamics and Welfare Needs of Black and Minority Ethnic Young People at the Margins

The UK Government is introducing a major new service - "Connexions", aimed at providing support for young people during the transition from school to employment, education or training.

Although universal in theory, this service will be targeted in particular at those young people most at risk of social exclusion and disaffection. This report provides an account of a major evaluation of how existing services reach - or overlook - groups of the most disaffected young people.

It focuses in particular on the needs and life experiences of young people from minority ethnic groups and the processes of exclusion which they experience. Key features of the report include: accounts of how disaffection begins long before young people leave school, often provoked by traumatic events at home; the additional difficulties, including racism, experienced by young people within the public care system; the experience of young people living on the margins of society after they leave school, and often unknown to official agencies; and messages for those involved in developing "Connexions", including the continuing problem of racism, the key role which played by voluntary sector organisations, and the need for diversity and flexibility of provision. This report provides an agenda of research and policy issues which should be of interest to those involved in understanding and responding to the needs of both white and minority ethnic marginalised young people, including local government, Learning and Skills Councils, careers advisors, youth and community workers, and education and training providers.