Problem addressed
Every year a number of young people drop out of school or work. In the Netherlands, in 2020 early leavers from education and training represented the 7% of the population aged between 18 and 24[1]. Gender, ethnicity, family characteristics, social class, criminal history, debt, and neighbourhood of residence all play a role in this. Research by the Central Bureau of Statistics suggests that young people who leave school without a basic qualification are twice as likely to be unemployed and five times as likely to become involved in crime.
The primary responsibility for guiding young people to adulthood rests with their parent(s). Where parents struggle, this responsibility is (partially) taken on by professionals. Several entities work with young people who leave school early (e.g. Regional Coordination Centre, Youth Care, Debt Relief Team), but that support is fragmented and fails to provide holistic guidance or a suitable trajectory for young people at risk of exclusion.
Professionals are limited to the vision and mission of their organisations, including conforming to specific protocols and procedures, and working only within official hours, while young people often need a more flexible and personalised type of support, also outside regular working hours.
Innovative solution
ESF-funded project NextTurn provides an innovative response to the needs of young people aged 16-23 who left school without a basic qualification. Taking a multi-disciplinary and holistic approach, it develops personalised support that help young people to fully realise their potential.
NextTurn helps young people to obtain support according to their individual needs (e.g. psychological support, help with finances or debt, housing, education, administration, work) and to consider different options for their future (e.g. return to school or work, or engage in some form of daily activity). It connects young people with the agencies and services they need and, if necessary, guides them through the various processes.
Users are assigned an individual mentor that acts as a single point of contact and can direct them to other relevant services, helping them with possible administrative (or language barriers). Mentors are volunteers receiving a small allowance (EUR 50 per quarter). They must attend two half-day training sessions, delivered by an experienced trainer employed by the Municipality of Roermond. The training focus on the development of coaching skills Training sessions also represent a chance to meet one another and exchange experiences. In addition to the trainer, mentors are supported by a coach, who is also employed by the Municipality of Roermond, with whom they have periodic one-to-one meetings. The objective of the coaching sessions is to help the mentors to grow in their role.
Mentors can be contacted at any time and support young people in a flexible and personalised way, with a focus on creating a relationship of trust.
The coach arranges periodic individual counselling sessions with the young people in question, in order to check the steps taken and results obtained. Meetings between the coach, the mentor and the young person also take place every so often.
In principle, young people who participate in the project receive support for a maximum of one year. In some cases, however, that support may be extended.
The project is coordinated by the Municipality of Roermond, which works with a large network of people and specialist entities.
The main partners are the Secondary Vocational Educational school (Middelbaar beroepsonderwijs, MBO) and the Higher Vocational Training Institute (Hoger beroepsonderwijs, HBO).
The education sector was supportive of the project, allowing scope for initiatives outside of the regular programmes. NextTurn collaborated with the local roundtable for young people at home and/or vulnerable (Actietafel Thuiszitters of Kwetsbare jongeren), with representatives from the municipality, the education sector, and social services coming together to discuss issues of concern to these young people.
NextTurn volunteers play a crucial role, as the link between the young people and the Municipality.
Key results and benefits
All NextTurn participants were registered with the Municipality and an evaluation was carried out by the Municipality’s Policy Advisor for Education.
The evaluation found that the project contributed to the active inclusion of the target group. The intensive individual guidance from the mentor and the NextTurn coach supported young people to overcome their personal barriers.
Results at participant level showed that young people were satisfied with the extra support provided by NextTurn.
During the ESF project, 52 young people were supported through NextTurn. These included 23 early school leavers (<23), without a qualification and not enrolled in any education, 16 young people of compulsory school age (<16), and 13 unaccompanied asylum-seeking minors.
Of the 52 young people supported, 47 reached their objective (e.g. return to school, engage in day-time activities, find work). More than 25 young people returned to school.
The support lasted for one year, on average. Young people particularly appreciated being able to count on their mentor. Between 2016 and 2019, 25 mentors were trained.
The service continued after the end of the ESF funding, and the total number of young people supported is now over 60.
‘[The mentor] has helped me with many things, for example work. Now I am less scared, and I can interact better with Dutch people’ (NextTurn participant).
‘Without the guidance and support of NextTurn, I would not have known how to get into the course to become a security guard, which I am currently following. Herman is my mentor and he supports me. I can always call or message him’ (NextTurn participant).
‘As a NextTurn mentor, I received free training and tools to work as a coach. I am proud of the fact that the goal of the young person I coached, which was to find voluntary work, was achieved. We succeeded!’ (NextTurn mentor).
Potential for mainstreaming
When the ESF project ended, NextTurn was mainstreamed as part of the Municipality of Roermond’s services for young people.
The model of support developed through NextTurn could be applied in other municipalities. The methodology and training format for volunteers to support vulnerable people are available to third parties free of charge. As indicated on the project’s website, Other organisations planning to use the NextTurn methodology can contact the Municipality of Roermond and receive free material and tips on recruiting mentors, the matching process, and mentors’ personal guidance, as well as training material.
