Health 25

Background

Across the UK the rates of 16-18 year olds that are not in employment, training or education (NEET) are varied, for example there is a rate of 15% in Knowsley (North West), 13.3% in Stoke-on-Trent (West Midlands) and 2.6% in Richmond upon Thames (Greater London).

Most UK NEET based policies are designed with the objective of getting NEET into EET (Education, Employment or Training). However insufficient evidence of the outcomes of polices may suggest that there are risk factors present that prevent young people who are NEET from becoming EET. Some evidence points more to the use of ‘holistic’ approaches and interventions, however some programmes developed with this remit are yet to be evaluated, and therefore conclusions cannot yet be made.

Approach

As part of the European Health 25 project, we conducted a desk based literature review of interventions engaging 16-20 year olds who are not in employment, education or training (NEET).

Findings

When practiced with some regularity physical activity (PA) is a health enhancing behaviour and is known to reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Many young people are not engaging in the recommended levels of PA and some longitudinal studies have shown that a steep decrease in levels of PA occur in adolescence. Evidence suggests that PA levels that are established in childhood and adolescence are carried forward into adulthood.

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