Resurgo’s Post

Since its release a month ago, Netflix’s history-marking series Adolescence is still sitting within the UK top ten. It’s clearly held swathes of us captivated, and left society grappling with the struggles young people are facing: a crisis of mental health, toxic masculinity, and online pressures leading to increased apathy, disconnection and loneliness. Stories like Adolescence, and statistics like the estimated number of NEET young people in the UK (which stands at 1 million – roughly the equivalent to the population of Birmingham), make it easy to be despondent. Today’s young people have been called a ‘lost generation’, but I’m resolute that at Resurgo, we can’t – and won’t – settle for that.  And we don’t have to. There’s so much reason for hope. Here’s a few encouragements that have stood out to me recently: ➡️ Our recently launched 2024 Impact Report, which demonstrates that despite facing significant barriers to work (more than two fifths of our trainees last year reported a mental health challenge, for example), young people are resilient, and The Spear Programme continues to be effective at helping them step into their potential. ➡️ The announcement that we’re launching The Spear Programme in two new locations, York and Merseyside! Yes, there’s growing need, but I’m so encouraged that our partners across the UK, both new and old, are committed to meeting it. ➡️ The Chancellor’s commitment to invest £1billion in “additional employment, health and skills support... to help people start or stay in work”. Being in work is a game changer, for the individual and society more widely, so it’s great that our government have recognised this as a priority. ➡️ Young people like Amber, whose poor mental health left her waking up at 4pm. With Spear’s help, she started building structure into her daily life and is now embarking on a Graphic Design and Interactive Media course at college.  She says: “Spear has shown me that I can do a lot more than I thought I could”. It’s so encouraging to see her shift in mindset. Amber recognised that she, (and I believe her entire generation), has a valuable contribution to make to society.     #lostgeneration #genz #youngpeople #youthemployment