Open Letter calls for national shift from ‘NEET’ to ‘LEET’ to reframe how society sees young people

The Be Free Campaign has issued an open letter to the UK Government calling for a fundamental shift in how young people outside education and employment are described, urging officials to replace the term “NEET” (Not in Education, Employment or Training) with “LEET” (Looking for Education, Employment or Training).

What is NEET to LEET

NEET, meaning “Not in Education, Employment or Training”, has been widely used for over two decades in policy, research and media to describe young people outside formal systems. But the Be Free Campaign says the label reduces young individuals to what they are not, reinforcing stigma and shaping services around problems rather than potential. 

The proposed alternative, ‘LEET’ (Looking for Education, Employment or Training), transforms the narrative from a passive label into an active pursuit. By adopting asset-based language, ‘LEET’ aims to ensure a young person’s situation is no longer boxing them into an identity. Moving away from the 'problem-first' framing that has dominated policy for decades.

“Reframing how we talk about young people is key to seeing change. In order for us to be able to support young people, we need to be able to identify the core issues. Pulling nearly 1 million young people into a single category does not help us do that. NEET to LEET will help us move away from being problem based, to seeing what young people are, full of potential.

Dr Shantanu Kundu, Chief Executive - Be Free Campaign

With the increase of young people navigating a volatile job market and evolving educational landscapes, it is essential that the frameworks used to support them are empowering. The #NEETtoLEET will involve a nationwide push to encourage government departments, local authorities, and third-sector organisations to adopt this new terminology in their reporting and outreach programs.

The Be Free Campaign is calling on policymakers and educators to join this movement, ensuring that the language of the future is one of hope and action. By removing the stigma of the "Not," we can better focus on the "Looking" creating a society that meets young people’s aspirations with genuine opportunity.

National Coverage of the campaign

The campaign has grown with national coverage, with Be Free Campaign making appearances on Channel 4 News, BBC North West Tonight and BBC Radio Merseyside.

Our press appearances are able to be viewed here

Signatories to the open letter include so far:

Danny Chambers MP (Liberal Democrat)

Jonathan Brash MP (Labour)

Iqbal Mohammed MP (Independent)

Wera Hobhouse MP (Liberal Democrat)

Hannah Lewis (Liverpool City Council)

Dr Shantanu Kundu (Be Free Campaign)

Andy Bell (Centre for Mental Health)

Amy Whitelock-Gibbs (Children & Young People’s Mental Health Coalition)

Read more about NEET to LEET on our campaign page