Ealing’s NEET Crisis: Gary Buckley’s Urgent Call to Action 2026

Key Points

• Gary Buckley, CEO of Action West London, warns that Ealing’s NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) issue is a critical concern amid the borough’s vibrancy, highlighting overlooked young people let down by support systems.
• West London’s NEET rate exceeds the national average, signalling structural failures in one of Britain’s most dynamic economic areas.
• Many NEETs have unmet Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) from school, leading to disengagement; re-entering education feels like returning to a failed system.
• Labour market shifts, stalled social mobility, and AI’s rise threaten entry-level jobs, exacerbating exclusion for marginalised youth.
• Buckley shares his personal story as the first in his family to attend university via a full grant, contrasting it with today’s harder pathways.
• Opportunities exist in green jobs, circular economy (repair, reuse, retrofit), and short vocational courses demanded locally.
• Ealing Council earns praise for committing to London Living Wage; Greater London Authority’s Inclusive Talent Brokerage aids access to quality jobs.
• Action West London partners with SEGRO, Peabody Housing, and McLaren Construction for practical job pathways.
• Priorities include: funding for hard-to-reach groups like working-class boys; London Living Wage-linked apprenticeships; short vocational quals; smarter procurement; localised employment support over centralised models.
• NEET issue signals broader labour market flaws; calls for employer, civil society, public sector collaboration.
• UK-wide, 957,000 young people aged 16-24 were NEET in Oct-Dec 2025, up 11,000 from prior quarter.
• Nearly 460,000 young men aged 18-24 NEET at 10-year high, per Bloomberg’s Irina Anghel, as noted by Buckley.
• Ealing Connexions Service supports 16-18-year-olds to avoid NEET status, contacting them for post-16 plans.
• Local efforts like Ealing Learning Partnership link academic attainment to EET outcomes.
• National 16-17 NEET proportions around 1.0-1.4% in older data; England average higher than London’s in some periods.

Ealing (Extra London News) May 5, 2026 – Gary Buckley, CEO of Action West London, has issued a stark opinion piece asserting that the borough’s NEET challenge demands urgent attention, framing it as both a warning and an opportunity for innovative interventions in youth support systems.

What is Driving Ealing’s High NEET Rates?

Gary Buckley of Ealing.News writes that

“Walk through any part of Ealing and you will see a borough full of energy, diversity and ambition. But beneath that, there is a quieter story — one that should concern all of us”.

He notes,

“Too many of our young people are not in education, employment or training. The term ‘NEET’ can feel clinical, but the reality is anything but. These are young people with potential, often overlooked, sometimes written off too early, and too frequently let down by systems that were meant to support them”.

As reported by Gary Buckley of Ealing.News,

“What is particularly striking — and troubling — is that West London’s NEET rate is higher than the national average. In one of the most economically dynamic parts of the country, that should give us pause. It tells us something structural is not working”.

Office for National Statistics data indicates 957,000 young people aged 16-24 were NEET UK-wide in October to December 2025, rising by 11,000 from the previous quarter, with 18-24s comprising 891,000.

Why Do Many NEETs in Ealing Have Unmet School Needs?

Buckley explains the roots: “For many of these young people, the story starts early. We have a generation who moved through the school system with unmet or unrecognised SEND needs. They struggled, often silently, in environments that were not designed for them”. He adds,

“By the time they left school, many had already disengaged from formal learning. When we later offer them courses or training, we are not starting from a neutral position — we are asking them to re-enter a system they feel has already failed them. We should not be surprised that some are sceptical”.

Ealing JSNA Focus on Children and Young People 2021 highlights NEET proportions for 16-17-year-olds at around 1.0%, with employment and training outcomes varying.

Corinne Gill, Ealing Learning Partnership Quality and Partnership Lead 11-19 Team, told the Children’s Services Scrutiny Panel on 3 October 2024 that academic attainment in English and maths at GCSE level correlates directly with EET status.

How Are Labour Market Changes Worsening the Crisis?

The opinion piece details broader pressures: “At the same time, the wider labour market is shifting in ways that make the challenge even more complex. Social mobility — once the cornerstone of the British promise — has stalled. The ladder feels steeper, and for many, further away”. Gary Buckley continues,

“Now add the rapid rise of artificial intelligence. Roles that were once seen as safe, particularly entry-level graduate jobs, are changing or disappearing altogether. We risk creating a bottleneck where even those who ‘did everything right’ find themselves competing in an increasingly narrow space. For those already on the margins, the risk of exclusion only grows”.

In a LinkedIn post, Gary Buckley, CEO of Action West London, referenced Bloomberg journalist Irina Anghel’s article noting almost 460,000 young men aged 18-24 as NEET—a 10-year high—highlighting structural barriers.

What Personal Insights Does Buckley Offer?

Buckley shares intimately:

“I feel this personally. I was the first in my family to go to university. I did so with a full grant, my tuition paid by the local authority — a system that believed in unlocking potential regardless of background. That pathway changed my life. It is much harder to see how that same pathway works today for many young people in boroughs like ours”.

What Opportunities Exist in West London?

Despite challenges, optimism prevails: “And yet — despite all of this — I remain optimistic. Because alongside the challenges, there are real opportunities emerging, particularly here in West London”. As per Gary Buckley in Ealing.News,

“The growth of green jobs and the circular economy is not abstract — it is happening on our doorstep. Repair, reuse, retrofit, sustainable logistics: these are sectors that can provide meaningful, skilled work. They also align with the values of a generation that wants purpose alongside pay”.

He notes demand for “shorter, occupationally relevant courses — practical, accessible training that leads directly to work. For many, this is the bridge back into learning. It builds confidence, creates momentum, and often becomes the stepping stone to further qualifications and sustained employment”.

How Is Ealing Council Responding to NEETs?

Local efforts shine: “There is much to build on locally. Ealing Council — its officers and councillors of all political stripes — deserve real credit for their commitment to the London Living Wage. It sends a clear message: work must pay, and it must have dignity”. Ealing Council Connexions Service supports 16-18-year-olds, basing advisers in schools and youth centres to guide choices and ensure post-16 plans, as updated for September 2024.

At London level,

“the Greater London Authority’s Inclusive Talent Brokerage is another example of what good looks like — actively working to ensure that all groups have access to quality employment opportunities”.

What Partnerships Are Key?

Partnerships drive change: “At Action West London, we see every day what can be achieved when sectors come together. Working with businesses such as SEGRO, alongside organisations like Peabody Housing and McLaren Construction, we are building pathways that connect local people to real jobs. These partnerships are not theoretical — they are practical, place-based, and rooted in shared responsibility”.

Action West London’s impact report shows beneficiaries mostly male (73%), aged 21-35 (72.6%).

What Are Buckley’s Five Priorities?

No quick fixes exist: “Because the truth is, there is no magic bullet here. No single programme will ‘fix’ the NEET challenge. It will take sustained effort — real graft — with civil society at the heart of the endeavour”.