'My friends say finding a job is a skill'

Tristan describes himself as an "Art-o-holic".

The 17-year-old has been coming to The Way Youth Zone in Wolverhampton for three years and is usually found in the art room working on his latest designs.

He is studying an art course at the City of Wolverhampton College and hopes to pursue a career in children's books and comics.

"I have a universe in my head, I just have to get it out somehow or someway," he told the BBC.

For the teenager, the youth centre has helped him express himself and become more open.

"Before I was more closed in," he explained. "I tended to go to the activities I enjoyed but I didn't really speak to people as much.

"It allows me to be myself. I'm not trying to hide myself and keep a shade over me."

With his new found confidence, Tristan now wants a part-time job to gain work experience.

It comes as the government renews its focus on NEETs, or young people not in employment, education or training.

Nearly a million 16 to 24-year-olds fall into this category. The government says 50,000 youth apprenticeships will be created over the next three years to tackle the issue.

"Some of my friends in secondary [school] were doing jobs as well and said it was quite hard to find one," Tristan added.

"They were saying it's a whole skill to find a job. But they did end up finding one in the end and doing pretty good."

The Way was buzzing with activity during the BBC's visit.

There were young people running around, playing games and enjoying the hot food that is on offer seven days a week.

In a side room tucked away upstairs, workers from Jaguar Land Rover's (JLR) Wolverhampton factory were running an engine workshop for young people.

The engineers volunteered their time after the JLR Foundation partnered with parent organisation OnSide to invest £250,000 in the youth centre.

Bosses say the money will help it reach more than 2,500 young people every year.

JLR's Foundation is newly created, and wants to give young people opportunities to help them transition into work.

"We know it's really important, given the statistics around young people who are not in education, employment or training at the moment," said foundation director Laura Brown.

Rebecca Bunger, head of youth work and partnerships at The Way, welcomed the government's fresh focus on NEETs and said greater funding would also be helpful.

"We've seen a lot less investment in young people over the last 15 or 20 years," she said.

"When businesses and organisations like Jaguar Land Rover Foundation put their hand in their pocket and demonstrate their support to our young people, that makes me really excited."

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