A new £1m trial launches this week in Cornwall to identify the best types of support to help young people get into work, training or education.
It is being run though the Council’s YEP (Youth Engagement Project) team and aims to support around 1,000 young people across our communities.
The trial has been funded by Youth Futures Foundation, a national not-for-profit organisation that works to ensure marginalised young people can thrive.
Called a Randomised Control Trial, it will run from September 2026 until December 2027.
Cllr Hilary Frank, Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Families at Cornwall Council, said:
“This funding gives us an important opportunity to help support more young people who are looking for education, employment or training.
“Our Youth Engagement Project has already made a huge difference to many young people who have been given the right support to build confidence, develop new skills and take their next step.
“This trial will help us understand which approaches have the greatest impact. Then we can build on what works, strengthen the support we provide and help even more young people across Cornwall succeed.”
Under the trial, young people aged 16 to 24 who are currently not in education, employment or training (NEET) will be supported through one of two pathways.
Everyone who joins the project will attend an initial meeting to help identify the support they need and explain the programme. Young people will then be randomly placed into one of the pathways:
Pathway One
Young people will receive support for up to six months. The first half of delivery - up to 12 weeks - will focus on confidence, motivation and life skills via one-to-one sessions and small group activities. Young people will also have a weekly check-in with their key worker. The second half of delivery - 12 weeks - is Pre-Employment Vocational Training (PEVT). Young people can choose from five job sectors of leisure, hospitality, construction, digital and horticultural. The training will help them gain experience and build workplace skills. It will also help them learn more about different career paths.
Pathway Two
Young people will also receive support for up to six months. They will meet with a key worker every two weeks. They will receive one-to-one employability support and life skills support including CV writing, travel training and confidence building. In addition, they can also take part in functional skills sessions delivered in small groups.
At the end of the trial, an independent research organisation, Cordis Bright, will carry out the evaluation.
A spokesperson for Cordis Bright Said:
“We’re excited to be partnering on the evaluation of YEP with Cornwall Council, Youth Futures Foundation, and young peer researchers from Cornwall. This is a valuable and timely opportunity to build the evidence base for ‘what works’ to strengthen young people’s employment outcomes, at a time when this is at the forefront of the national conversation.”
For more information visit the YEP page on the Council’s website.