The Value We Don't Count - Documentary Screening

What does a work opportunity actually give a young person, besides a payslip? Sometimes it’s the first real shot at experience, a chance to learn on the job, and a way to step into an economy that has kept far too many people waiting outside. The Value We Don’t Count is a documentary by Youth Capital that puts young people at the center of the story, sharing what public employment has meant in their lives and in their communities. It looks at the everyday impact of programmes like the Basic Education Employment Initiative, where more hands in classrooms can also mean income, skills, confidence, and a door opening to the next thing. At a time when youth unemployment remains painfully high, public employment can do a lot more than it gets credit for. It can build dignity, support households, and create real pathways for young people to participate in the world of work. Yet these programmes are often the first to be squeezed when budgets get tight, even when they are clearly making a difference. This event is a chance to watch the documentary, hear the thinking behind it, and dig into the bigger question of what gets valued, protected, and funded. It also connects to Youth Capital’s #PEPs4Youth campaign, which calls for public employment programmes to be ring-fenced and grown so that at least 1 million opportunities can be created for young people every year. Come through to Bertha House in Mowbray and see what public employment makes possible when you look beyond the numbers and toward the people behind them.