Summer holidays will be full of worry

Parents will be spending the holiday worrying about whether their child will find the right job n the future.
They won’t be the only ones worrying. A survey conducted across the South West found that 81 per cent of young people are worrying about their career prospects.

The survey commissioned by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC)  highlights the benefits of Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA). While 78 per cent of youngsters plan to stay on in education, 18 per cent worried about not having enough money and 20 per cent were concerned about the stress of exams.

Young People’s Support Programmes Policy Director at the Learning and Skills Council, Ian Pursglove said: “These results portray a very different image of young people than we often hear about – they are ambitious and focused.  A large majority want to further their education and career prospects are at the forefront of their minds and their parents’ minds.

“We know these are worrying times but, for parents who want to support their children during the downtime after exams, applying for EMA can relieve some of their concerns.  Even for those young people who don’t enjoy the traditional classroom environment, EMA can provide financial support for other options such as Work Based Learning or Diplomas. Young people that are eligible and apply now can rest assured that they will receive their allowance when they start their new course, offering one less thing to worry about over the summer.”

The main motivations of young people surveyed for doing well in exams were getting a good job (56%) and to keep their options open (16%), ahead of impressing parents and teachers, and getting better results than their friends, the survey also revealed.

To find out more about EMA, visit: www.direct.gov.uk/ema or call the EMA helpline on 0800 121 8989.