The particular issue that Streetscape is addressing is simple: youth unemployment. When setting up Streetscape, there was a conscious intent to address the lack of opportunities available for young people who are long-term unemployed, unskilled and, as a result, living in poverty – and to design our apprenticeships accordingly.Currently youth unemployment, including those not in full-time education/training, stands at 1,039,000 (Centre for Economic and Social Inclusion, 2016). In 2010, the University of York calculated that a long-term unemployed young person will cost society £105,000 over a lifetime, approximately £130,000 in 2017. Indeed, 'Youth Unemployment UK' (September 2016) reported that youth unemployment over the next decade has been estimated at £28 billion. The levels of youth unemployment in London remain at alarming levels, with The City of London's report, 'Helping Young Londoners Towards and into Employment' (March 2016), stating that it stands at 19%, with 23% of those being unemployed for more than 12 months. The report also states that we are not providing sufficient numbers of apprenticeship opportunities, with only 8% of firms in London doing so, compared to 11% in the rest of England.Furthermore, whilst our aim is to support those young people out of unemployment, our bespoke programme also aids young people in many other ways. Youth unemployment is also closely correlated with an increase in criminal activity, and continued worklessness through generations to follow, and degradation in mental and physical health. The Prince's Trust Macquarie Youth index (2014) has found that three quarters of a million young people believe they have nothing to live for, with jobless youngsters facing "devastating" symptoms of mental illness. The research found that the long-term unemployed were more than twice as likely to be prescribed anti-depressants, one in three have contemplated suicide, while one in four self-harmed. We tackle these issues holistically through our paid apprenticeships in our landscaping and garden maintenance social enterprise.By tackling the issue of youth unemployment, Streetscape not only aid our apprentices directly, but we also confront the individual, economic and societal consequences of youth unemployment.
Education and Skills
Streetscape is a London based charity, dedicated to growing the lives of 18-25 year olds who are long-term unemployed, disadvantaged and socially excluded. We do this by providing 15-month salaried apprenticeships in landscape gardening, where apprentices work towards a Level 2 qualification in Work-Based Horticulture. Our core aim is to help each apprentice build the skills and experience they need to move into, and retain, work and, in so doing, rise above social exclusion and reach their full potential. Integral to this is our Social Enterprise model, wherein we offer garden design, landscaping, and maintenance services to residential, community, and commercial clients across Greater London. The quality of our apprentice work has been recognised by our Gold, Silver-Gilt and Silver medal winning gardens built at RHS Chelsea Flower Show, in 2014, 2015 and 2016 and RHS Hampton Court Flower Show in 2015 and 2016. We are committed to Growing lives, Transforming landscapes. Since our establishment in 2011, 14 apprentices have graduated from Streetscape, 11 of which achieved Level 2 Diplomas; 92% of our graduates moved immediately from Streetscape into employment. Currently, 12 of the 14 (85%) remain in work. All Streetscape graduates had been unemployed for a minimum of six months before joining us, five for over a year; and four had criminal convictions.
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