Letter: We need to help young and old find work

Blog: Two stories in a recent Shropshire Star provide an ironic juxtaposition to this country's - and Telford's - economic situation.

On page one, a headline "Talks on job cuts at advice service" described how the work of supporting young people through the Connexions service in employment and other issues is being lined up to take a massive cut.

Young people across the town will see a reduction in youth services, in both manpower and expertise, and society as a whole will pay a heavy price in the long run.

Don't be surprised if problems with "youth" escalate in the years to come.

On page 25, the headline "Sessions are aiming to help job hunters" described how a whole week of advice will be offered to unemployed people of all ages, under the auspices of Adult Learners Week.

A derisory and insulting offering to long-suffering people.

Don't get me wrong. The well-meaning staff will do their best to help, but in a week?

Ongoing support, and nothing less, will be needed to combat the stress and distress of unemployment, not a week of "digital photography sessions, Zumba classes and cake decorating courses".

Let's support our young people, before demoralisation sets in, and then we need to think how to pay for a decent and effective youth service.

How about bankers' unearned bonuses for starters, followed swiftly by unwarranted bonuses paid regardless of performance to a growing sector of senior executives?

Dave Askins

Lightmoor