A BBC survey highlights teenagers’ calls for work experience, practical life skills and support with confidence and wellbeing. At Action4Youth, we believe their voices should help shape how we prepare young people for their next steps.
What do young people need to feel ready for working life?
According to a survey of 2,000 young people aged 13 to 18, conducted by Survation for the BBC, 44% wanted more work experience opportunities at school. Almost as many wanted help managing finances (43%) and applying for jobs (42%). Support with managing stress and mental health (39%) and developing communication skills (38%) also featured strongly.
Together, these findings show how closely preparation for work connects with wider preparation for adult life.
Confidence to take the next step
Starting work involves much more than knowing how to complete an application. Meeting unfamiliar people, asking for help, communicating ideas and handling setbacks can all feel daunting. Young people need opportunities to practise these skills, alongside encouragement from trusted adults who can help them recognise their strengths and explore their options.
The experiences shared in the BBC article also highlight something valuable: discovering that a particular working environment does not suit you can be useful. Work experience can help young people ask better questions about their future, even when it changes their plans.
They should have room to explore without feeling that one decision, or one set of exam results, will determine everything that follows.
Connecting aspirations with experience
At Action4Youth, we support young people to develop confidence, broaden their experiences and recognise their potential.
Our Inspiration Programme helps young people explore possibilities and broaden their aspirations. Its Work Life element creates opportunities to learn about the world of work and consider the paths available to them.
Through Skills4Life, we support young people with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) to build confidence, independence and practical life skills. One-to-one support, group activities and practical tasks give young people opportunities to develop and use those skills.
Across this work, our focus is on the whole young person: their aspirations, relationships, wellbeing and the support they need to move forward.
Opportunities should not depend on who you know
One teenager in the BBC article described the difficulty of finding suitable work experience close to home. Her experience raises an important question: how can we make sure opportunities reach young people who face barriers to accessing them?
Personal connections, location, transport costs and additional support needs can all affect whether a young person can take part.
Schools have an important role, but they cannot meet every need alone. Employers, youth organisations, charities and local partners can contribute different experiences, expertise and relationships. That could mean welcoming young people into a workplace, talking honestly about different career routes, or providing supported opportunities to try something unfamiliar.
Listening and responding together
Despite their concerns, more than three-quarters of teenagers surveyed said they felt positive about their future. There is optimism to build on, alongside a clear call for practical support.
Young people are telling us they want opportunities to explore working life and develop the skills to navigate it. Our shared responsibility is to listen and help make those opportunities accessible.
Action4Youth welcomes conversations with employers, schools and organisations interested in supporting this work. Together, we can help more young people approach their next steps with confidence and a clearer sense of what is possible.
Read the BBC article: “We asked teens what schools should teach them about work. This is what they said”. >
Young people want more support to prepare for working life
A BBC survey highlights teenagers’ calls for work experience, practical life skills and support with confidence and wellbeing. At Action4Youth, we believe their voices should help shape how we prepare young people for their next steps.
What do young people need to feel ready for working life?
According to a survey of 2,000 young people aged 13 to 18, conducted by Survation for the BBC, 44% wanted more work experience opportunities at school. Almost as many wanted help managing finances (43%) and applying for jobs (42%). Support with managing stress and mental health (39%) and developing communication skills (38%) also featured strongly.
Together, these findings show how closely preparation for work connects with wider preparation for adult life.
Confidence to take the next step
Starting work involves much more than knowing how to complete an application. Meeting unfamiliar people, asking for help, communicating ideas and handling setbacks can all feel daunting. Young people need opportunities to practise these skills, alongside encouragement from trusted adults who can help them recognise their strengths and explore their options.
The experiences shared in the BBC article also highlight something valuable: discovering that a particular working environment does not suit you can be useful. Work experience can help young people ask better questions about their future, even when it changes their plans.
They should have room to explore without feeling that one decision, or one set of exam results, will determine everything that follows.
Connecting aspirations with experience
At Action4Youth, we support young people to develop confidence, broaden their experiences and recognise their potential.
Our Inspiration Programme helps young people explore possibilities and broaden their aspirations. Its Work Life element creates opportunities to learn about the world of work and consider the paths available to them.
Through Skills4Life, we support young people with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) to build confidence, independence and practical life skills. One-to-one support, group activities and practical tasks give young people opportunities to develop and use those skills.
Across this work, our focus is on the whole young person: their aspirations, relationships, wellbeing and the support they need to move forward.
Opportunities should not depend on who you know
One teenager in the BBC article described the difficulty of finding suitable work experience close to home. Her experience raises an important question: how can we make sure opportunities reach young people who face barriers to accessing them?
Personal connections, location, transport costs and additional support needs can all affect whether a young person can take part.
Schools have an important role, but they cannot meet every need alone. Employers, youth organisations, charities and local partners can contribute different experiences, expertise and relationships. That could mean welcoming young people into a workplace, talking honestly about different career routes, or providing supported opportunities to try something unfamiliar.
Listening and responding together
Despite their concerns, more than three-quarters of teenagers surveyed said they felt positive about their future. There is optimism to build on, alongside a clear call for practical support.
Young people are telling us they want opportunities to explore working life and develop the skills to navigate it. Our shared responsibility is to listen and help make those opportunities accessible.
Action4Youth welcomes conversations with employers, schools and organisations interested in supporting this work. Together, we can help more young people approach their next steps with confidence and a clearer sense of what is possible.
Read the BBC article: “We asked teens what schools should teach them about work. This is what they said”. >
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Action4Youth awarded £60,000 grant from Garfield Weston Foundation