From the Editor: Young people aren't lazy - they are up against it

Hello!

I would like to start this week by saying that the thoughts of myself and the Free Press team are with the family and friends of the man tragically killed in the tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park on Saturday.

It is a tragedy that has shocked everyone and I urge people not to speculate as to the circumstances surrounding the incident.

In due course an inquest will be held to establish the facts and these findings will be made public when the proceedings conclude.

My thoughts are also with the wildlife park staff who so professionally dealt with what was an extremely harrowing and difficult incident.

The park will have been busy with people of all ages enjoying a family day out, and this would have been a very traumatic experience for anyone who witnessed it.

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On page four this week we have reports on new data which shows that Doncaster has one of the highest numbers in the country of young people Not in Education, Employment, or Training (NEETs).

According to the data, there are nearly 5,000 local 16-24-year-olds who fit into this category.

This is obviously concerning and although labels like ‘NEETs’ can be useful in identifying problems and finding solutions, they can also be stigmatising and counterproductive.

There is currently a lot of debate around NEETs, with some people writing today’s younger generation off as ‘lazy’.

I think this is grossly unfair and simplifies what is a highly complex issue which stems from a multitude of different causes.

Although the term ‘NEETs’ didn’t exist back then, when I was a teenager I went through a period of time where I was not in education, employment or training. The difference then was I wasn’t given the stigma of this particular label.

I was able to sort things out, get back on my feet and fulfil my ambition of becoming a journalist.

Young people today face different hurdles and challenges than previous generations.

Firstly, there are far fewer opportunities for them to get the vital work experience which can open doors for them.

My 15-year-old daughter is currently looking for work placements in her chosen field, but her emails and letters are not having any success.

The truth is many organisations, large and small, which in years-gone-by would have offered placements to under-18s, no longer do so due to things like safeguarding and liabilities. It’s a crying shame.

This generation is also growing up in a world where some entry level jobs are being automated or changing as a result of AI.

Facing these sorts of obstacles, is it any wonder so many young people find themselves in this predicament?

Most young people aren’t lazy. What’s lazy is labelling them as such and writing them all off.