British Minister Pat McFadden visited Jongerenpunt070 in The Hague last week. Jongerenpunt070 advises and guides young people in The Hague aged 16 to 27 towards employment, education, or social participation. The Minister was received by Alderman Nur Icar (Employment). During the working visit, particular attention was paid to what The Hague does for the so-called ‘NEET group’: young people who are not studying or pursuing any education. Thanks to a preventive approach in the neighborhoods and at vocational schools, young people are reached more quickly and problems can be prevented. The Minister also received a tour of Jongerenpunt070, and experiences were shared regarding guiding young people towards employment.
Alderman Nur Icar (Employment): “It is very valuable to exchange experiences with other countries and learn from each other’s approaches. It is wonderful to show Minister McFadden today how we empower young people in The Hague. We do this by truly seeing young people and offering them the chance to build their future with self-confidence. With results: last year, Jongerenpunt070 helped more than 4,000 young people!”
Minister McFadden (Work and Pensions): “A visit to Jongerenpunt070 showed me just how much of a difference it really makes when every young person gets their own trajectory, a coach, and a tailored plan. That Dutch model is already starting to take root in the UK, with hundreds of new ‘Youth Hubs’ being rolled out across the country. No young person should be given up on and written off – everyone deserves a path to success, and this government is determined to provide that.”
In the right place, with the right people
At Jongerenpunt070, young people are assigned a dedicated contact person with whom they can discuss everything (confidentially). Together with a coach, they assess what the young person needs. For example, which education program suits the young person’s wishes, or whether the young person wants to start working immediately or wants to work and study at the same time. In this way, Jongerenpunt070 ensures that young people end up in the right place and with the right people. Sometimes there are matters that need to be addressed first before a step towards work or education can be taken, such as financial matters and childcare. Jongerenpunt070 focuses on prevention and support in these areas as well.
Text: Gemeente Den Haag. Translation to English: The Hague Online
Photo credit: Alderman Icar receives Minister McFadden at Jongerenpunt070, Photographer: Phil Nijhuis
