David Blunkett: all teenagers will have access to Connexions

The service will be rolled out in 16 areas in April 2001 and across the rest of England by March 2003, replacing the existing Careers and Youth Service.

Education Secretary David Blunkett said �420m would be spent on the initiative by 2003 - �177m more than the careers service currently receives.

It is hoped Connexions will help to reach out to disaffected teenagers, who may find it hard to use conventional sources of advice and have little parental support.

Nearly one third of young people drop out or fail to achieve their potential in full-time education, costing an estimated �350m.

Personal advisor

Under the Connexions scheme, a personal advisor will be allocated to every teenager, offering careers advice, as well as help over issues such as drugs and homelessness.

Advisors will be based primarily in schools, but will also be found in High Street centres.

Mr Blunkett said the initiative will help relieve the burden on schools.

Connexions will provide a comprehensive and coherent system of support and development

Tom Wylie, National Youth Agency

"By introducing younger teenagers to Connexions and providing additional support in schools alongside learning mentors, teachers are being increasingly enabled to focus more on teaching rather than being social workers.

"Connexions will also work closely with local youth services," he added.

The news was welcomed by Ursula Russell, chair of the Careers Service National Association, who said the scheme would provide a net "so small that no young person falls through".

Chief executive of the National Youth Agency, Tom Wylie said local youth services were in favour of the new approach.

"Connexions will provide a long sought-after opportunity to create a comprehensive and coherent system of support and development for young people."

Young people 'failed'

But the Shadow Education Secretary, Theresa May, said the system would fail young people.

"They have refused to confirm that under this scheme every young person will have a proper careers interview," she claimed.

The first Connexions services will be introduced in the following 16 areas: