An advisory group set up by government to manage the new National Careers Service has publically denounced the reduction in services for young people.
In a press release published this week, the Group expressed many of their concerns and said that they had considered resigning at a pre-meeting.
They said: “At a time when young people are facing massive changes in further and higher education, and new apprenticeships – as well as high youth unemployment – stripping out the professional help available to them is not only foolhardy: it is potentially damaging to young people’s lives and ultimately to the economy.”
The new National Careers Service, formerly known as the Advisory Group on the All-Age Careers Service, will be restricted to telephone and web-based services for young people.
Schools have been told to take responsibility for providing face-to-face support, although so far there has been no funding to help them with this.
The previous provision for these services, around £200 million per year, is believed to have disappeared entirely.
The face-to-face services available for adults are so far unaffected.
The Group say that they are also concerned with the Government’s “inadequate quality assurance and accountability measures announced to date”.
The National Careers Service Advisory Group is continuing to work with government and say that they welcome the promise of fresh involvement by the Department for Education.
If you want to make the government listen to the destruction of face to face Careers Guidance please use your vote on the e-petition “Save face to face Careers advice for all young people.” Remember every vote counts: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/8831