Katy Gordon » Young People

We must not create a ‘lost generation’

Katy Gordon — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 12:19:46 +0000

Katy proposed a motion at the Scottish party conference, which provides clear, practical steps to prevent the creation of a ‘lost generation’ of young people in the labour market, in the wake of the recession.

Katy said:

“There is a real danger now that the biggest fallout from the credit crisis is the creation of a lost generation of young people who never make the transition from school, college or university into work…

There is no doubt about it: unemployment hurts. Bankers focused on their bonuses should stop and think: where will the productive workers of tomorrow come from if we don’t look after the skill levels of the future workforce today?”

This video is courtesy of the BBC. The extract was recorded

during the Preventing the Creation of a Lost Generation debate at the Scottish

Liberal Democrat conference, Perth, from 10.50-11.35 on Saturday 6th March ’10.

Katy’s challenge to Gordon Brown, at the time of writing, remains unanswered.

We must take steps to save the ‘lost generation’

Katy Gordon — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:06:17 +0000

At this weekend’s Scottish Liberal Democrat party conference Katy successfully proposed a motion at this weekend’s which provides clear, practical steps to ensure that Scotland’s young people do not become ‘the lost generation’ in the labour market. The motion was passed unanimously.

Despite the government’s claims that the economy is gradually showing signs of recovery, unemployment continues to rise for young people, with over a third of unemployed people under the age of 25.

Speaking at conference in Perth, Katy said:

“There is a real danger now that the biggest fallout from the credit crisis is the creation of a lost generation of young people who never make the transition from school, college or university into work…

There is no doubt about it: unemployment hurts. Bankers focused on their bonuses should stop and think: where will the productive workers of tomorrow come from if we don’t look after the skill levels of the future workforce today?”

The Liberal Democrats want to create a fairer society, where every child gets a fair start. That includes a fair start in the job market. This means giving young people meaningful employment experiences, whether through paid internships, a faster route into apprenticeships or access to practical, personal development programmes.

Cadder community centre under threat

Katy Gordon — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:50:27 +0000

Like many residents, Katy was saddened to hear that Cadder Community Centre is threatened with closure by Glasgow’s Labour City Council. The Community Centre is virtually the only meeting place left for local groups within the area. If it closes, vital services such as the Ruchill Youth project will be moved as far away as Possilpark. Katy said:

“Last year, when we campaigned together to save St Agnes Primary School from closure, we hoped this would be the last time that Labour would ignore the wishes of local people.
Yet again, the council has presented a closure plan as a done deal, despite describing their letter to Cadder Community Council (informing them of the planned closure) as a ‘consultation’. We must do everything we can to show the Council that their decision is not acceptable.”