by John Kennedy

I grew up in Walworth South East London on a council estate, my parents ensured I received a good education and when I left school in the early 80's at that young age of sixteen I had four job offers all good apprenticeships and this was at a time of very high unemployment.

My parents worked hard and that ethos was instilled in me, my school a Roman Catholic one certainly taught discipline but also respect for my elders, we were part of a community and you could see a way out of the council estate, training, a job which offered a decent wage from the age of nineteen. The transition from boyhood to man was been managed by my parents and employers, at that young impressionable age of sixteen I was already on a ladder of opportunity.

Now I am of the opinion it doesn't matter where you start in life, what matters is you can see a way out, for most sensible people would rather take the lawful easy option, education, a job with a decent wage, training which offers future earnings or even a place at university studying for a worthwhile degree which allows you to move onwards and upwards in life. But something has fractured in society within the UK, opportunities do not seem to be created for all our young, jobs go to cheaper imported Labour from non European Union countries yet a lot of young people within our cities sit idle receiving benefits and or monies from criminal activities.

It is surely cheaper for all of us to invest in the youth for the criminal justice system is failing and the cost is extremely high. We don't just pay with the damage to local communities and individual families we pay through the nose with increased taxes. So should we the people play a bigger role in deciding the future of this nations youth, should we stop blaming the system and Government and get off our backsides and seek opportunity, knock on the door of local business, send a email or letter to the heads of large corporations and ask them for employment opportunities, if that fails ask for training or assistance so we can help ourselves.

I firmly believe if we can put a ladder in front of young people they will get on the first rung and then the only way is up, with the right encouragement and mentoring we can turn all the youth of today into successful worthwhile citizens, individuals with a real stake into society. You may think where are all these jobs well self employment is always an option. For example if you're 18 live in London or home counties sign up for the knowledge and within three years of full time self disciplined training you'll join the ranks with me and my colleagues driving a London taxi-cab, join the Armed services and get one of the many excellent skills they have to offer, yes the work can be very dangerous but so can walking down the street in parts of London late at night ! Training is the key to all the social ills we have and we must certainly stop deluding young people into believing they can become the next rock star, rapper or even a premiership footballer.

It's time for a reality check and it's time to put impressionable young people into work, let's offer them a future where they can grow in confidence and stature and feel part of a community, time to put the young on the first rung of a ladder of life and who knows where it will lead, but as long as it's onwards and upwards you'll be a success in my book.