You will likely have picked up the shocking news that one-fifth of our young people in school are absent for more than 10 per cent of the time.

You may already know that there is a real problem in terms of the mental health of teenagers, particularly in the 14-18 age group.

What you may never have heard is something that seems to have gone unnoticed and under the radar: the reality of more than 850,000 young people between the ages of 16 and 24, who are not in education, employment or training - known as NEETs.

These breathtaking numbers are about real people and their life chances but also about a massive loss to our economic and social wellbeing. That is why we should sit up and take notice.

The ‘permacrisis’

Britain’s under 25s have grown up in what the Collins dictionary’s word of the year 2022 aptly dubbed the “permacrisis”. Whether it be the 2008 financial crisis, the rise of global populism, the Covid-19 pandemic or the return of war to Europe, this has been a unique period of change for young people to navigate.

As the number of NEETS outlined above demonstrates, there is an immediate need to provide the skills and confidence to those who will otherwise face long-term unemployment.

Volunteering can provide a real opportunity both for personal development and social action.

Such can be seen through the work of Isobel, Sylvie and Isabella, all under the age of 25, who, after learning that 46 per cent of women in the area struggled with the costs of basic sanitary protection, came together to tackle the issue of period poverty by forming the Brighton Period Project.

Since its inception, the project has distributed more than 30,000 products to local residents.

Building self-worth

Sadly, however, since the pandemic, the number of hours that young people spend volunteering has dramatically reduced. Yet it is clear that when they are equipped with the tools to tackle social issues, the possibilities and impacts are endless.

Therefore building the self-worth and self-belief of our young people within the context of serving the community should be paramount.

That is why programmes such as National Citizen Service (NCS) and its sister employability scheme, UK Year of Service, are proving to be vital.

Since it was established in 2011, more than 800,000 young people have participated in the NCS programme, which draws those from different backgrounds together, raises aspiration and ambition, and inculcates the long-lasting truth that when you give, you get back, and when you make the effort, you deserve support.

The power of service

The Brighton Period Project came about through NCS, where young people were encouraged to see how they could change the world for the better.

For many of those without work or prospects, there has to be a very different experience from the revolving door of being offered short-term placements followed by long-term dissolution. That is why the new pilot programme, UK Year of Service, is so important.

This employability initiative, facilitated by NCS, offers nine- to 12-month paid work experience to those uncertain about their future, providing a supportive placement in organisations that benefit society.

More than 80 per cent of the participants of UK Year of Service go on to full-time employment or continuing education, having gained life skills and the confidence to progress.

We need to go further

Now, as we navigate the aftermath of the pandemic, there is an urgent need to expand the offer.

At a recent event hosted by the think tank Onward, a simple but pressing point was made to the audience: backing national programmes for young people is an investment, not a spend. The event title put it best - we must deliver “paid work that pays back”.

The panel was joined by the CEO of AmeriCorps, Michael D Smith. AmeriCorps is a volunteer and community action programme for young people in the US, which has produced 1.3 million graduates, including two US senators. If we are to match the success of AmeriCorps in the UK, we must give young people the tools to serve their communities.

A step-change requires cross-party support, and a real commitment to “long-term thinking” and practical action. Opportunities must extend across the regions and become part of a regular, sustained and well-funded youth sector landscape.

There is a significant opportunity to build on some great successes in recent years of national-to-local collaboration, combining resources across central government departments and linking to elected mayors and local authorities - and through this, continuing to offer meaningful opportunities and hope for the future.

Rt Hon Professor the Lord David Blunkett was secretary of state for education and employment from 1997 to 2001

Harris Bokhari OBE is chair of the National Citizen Service

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