NEETS - Small Steps Create Big Shifts

Written By Ged Petrie

Why Re-Engagement Matters: Making Builds Confidence and Identity in Young People

At The Maker Hub, we meet young people for whom mainstream learning has stopped working, but where a desire for purpose and belonging is still very much alive. We’ve found that the biggest barrier isn’t their ability, it’s disconnection. Disconnection from learning, from routine, from confidence and often from a sense of identity. We see re-engagement as where the rebuild begins.It’s a small step that creates a big shift. 

Re-Engagement Isn’t a Step Backward, It’s a Reset

According to the House of Commons Library there are currently 946,000 NEET (not in employment, education and training) young people in the UK:  a figure that has remained persistently high since Covid. Yet a young person whose disengaged with school or training hasn’t “failed” at learning. Instead, they’ve been in systems that hasn’t matched how many young person learns best. Research from the Education Endowment Foundation shows that this builds low confidence, leading to repeated academic setbacks, which significantly reduce engagement and effort in young people.

We see re-engagement as giving young people:

  • A fresh start free from labels or negative school experiences

  • Quick success, achieved through small, meaningful tasks

  • A confidence reboot rooted in doing, making and mastery

  • A renewed identity; “I can learn; I can achieve; I can move forward.”

Crucially, before we ever start talking about qualifications or next steps, The Maker Hub’s aim is to help young people re-enage with learning as something they can succeed in, maybe for the first time in years.

Why Making Matters

Hands-on learning is one of the most powerful tools for re-engagement. Studies show that practical, creative and project-based learning environments increase motivation and builds persistence, especially for learners who have struggled in traditional settings (NESTA – Creativity & Learning).

At The Maker Hub’s, our programmes in woodworking, 3D printing, and practical design become bridges back into learning. Young people:

  • See visible progress quickly

  • Build functional Maths and English through real tasks

  • Strengthen resilience through manageable challenges

  • Experience pride, ownership and achievement

The moment a young person holds something they have created, something they once believed they couldn’t do, a new story begins to form (Anglia Ruskin University),

Human Connection is the Heart of Progress

Re-engagement doesn’t happen because a project is interesting, it happens because a young person feels safe, seen, and supported. Research from The Prince’s Trust Youth Index shows that strong relationships with trusted adults significantly improve confidence, wellbeing, and motivation among vulnerable young people.

That’s why our one-to-one and small-group sessions prioritise:

  • Consistency

  • Low-pressure, relational support

  • Trust-building

  • Encouragement without judgement

When those foundations are in place, a young person’s willingness to learn rises naturally. We meet them where they are, then move forward together.

Re-engagement is the Gateway to Progression

We don’t expect young people to leap straight into qualifications or employment. Instead, we aim to strengthen:

  • Confidence

  • Routine

  • Skill awareness

  • Motivation

  • Goal-setting

Once these foundations are in place, young people are far more likely to succeed in functional Maths and English, apprenticeships, vocational courses, or further training. The Learning and Work Institute highlights that re-engagement programmes significantly improve progression into education and employment.

A Community Responsibility

Re-engaging young people is not simply about preventing negative outcomes. It’s also about creating communities where everyone can thrive. Evidence from the Centre for Youth Impact shows that high-quality re-engagement work improves wellbeing, reduces anxiety, and builds long-term resilience.

When young people reconnect with learning:

  • Wellbeing increases

  • Anxiety reduces

  • Aspirations widen

  • Opportunities open

  • Communities strengthen

At The Maker Hub, we’re proud to help young people take these first steps.

A Final Thought: Small Steps Creates Big Shifts

We know that qualifications matter. Employment matters. Future pathways matter. But we believe that none of this is possible until a young person feels ready. 

Re-engaging is that starting point and, for many, it becomes the turning point. If you’d like to learn more about how The Maker Hub can help you support young people or explore partnership opportunities, we’d love to talk.

Get in touch with us today.

Ged Petrie