So many dreams for our youngsters dashed.

What Brexit has taken from our young people is the opportunity to take part in the Erasmus programme that enabled British students to study in universities elsewhwre in the EU and for students from other EU countries to study in Britian building up links and networks.

A replacement is being introduced but not as far reaching or as generous as the Erasmus programme.

It has also disrupted the provision of research funds for leading edge technology thta may enable us to deal with global warming as well as other technological funding. We were part of Europe wide research networks, where projects called on the best young reaerchers in many fields from across Europe and brought them together to work on technological problems that face everyone.

DD worked in this field, she was working fulltime, from home until the end of last year. In February, she was put on furlough and hasn't been back since because the new UK only funding system isn't working. Thankfully she has skills much in demand and started a new job in a different field at the beginning of this month, but that doesn't apply to everybody.

The world and opportunities due to Brexit has shrunk for our young people because of leavers believing the lies of this corrupt and incompetent government.

I have children & grandchildren & I honestly can’t see a single downside to leaving the EU.

Perhaps you could then give us a list of the upsides, please. Or perhaps not, I know we have asked leave voters many times to tell us what the advantages are. We are still waiting.

As regards ”widen your horizons” I find this quite intriguing. For years one thing that has become very desirable to people is to have choice. But now, we are suddenly supposed to just give it up and ”widen our horizons”. Give us one good reason why.

Daisend1

Anything in life worth having rarely comes easy,
BREXIT .or no Brexit

I'm not sure why you have to shout but I agree, many people do find life and living do not come easily. However, that does not mean we have to make it more difficult than it already is for everyone.

I think I’ve mentioned this before but they aren’t all hooray Henry’s. Plenty non posh students I ve known went to work in Europe , in. Campsites, yes ski resorts but also hotels, families etc.

How much does a flight to NZ cost?

How much does it cost to hitch-hike to Dover, get on the ferry, and hitch-hike across France and Europe, as so many of us have done in the past. Or Inter-rail, or National Express of other coach companies, many of them with bike carriage.

I am off of GN for today, just tracked eldest AC and wife’s plane from Kenya they are approaching Reims so should be landing at Heathrow within the hour. Be with us by 6ish!

Time to put more champagne in the fridge and welcome them home ????

It is a big mess for so many people now caught in catch 22 situations. It is fine for people who have no real concept of these situations people find themselves in to just think - ah there are only a small percentage this affects - but every part of that percentage is a person who has dreams etc which have been dashed.

Not even 'dreams', particularly, just people's plans or the future they wanted..

And, eight months in, we still don't have the slightest idea of what tangible benefits there are, or will be as a result of leaving the EU

Anything in life worth having rarely comes easy,
BREXIT .or no Brexit

GrannyGravy13

There is a big wide world outside of the EU, totally different cultures, landscapes and food.

If only folks could widen their horizons?

Agreed. So many of them travel to Thailand or other distant countries and they have no idea of what Europe is like. On holiday in Indonesia some years ago, I was talking to a young woman who had never been on holiday in Europe. Her idea of a European holiday was laying on a beach in southern Spain.

Europe is a wonderful group of countries, all of them with different cultures and life styles.

The opportunities to travel to and work in other countries far away was always there when we were in the EU - that has not changed but it does not replace what has been lost by leaving the EU. Many countries have some form of restrictions on foreign people living, working and owning property in their countries - Thailand for instance does. America also has punitive tax rules for foreigners who own property when they die if they have not become citizens of the country.
There are also a good number of British young people who have been brought up in the EU - have gone through other education systems and are bi- lingual at least. Many now have problems with going to university and finding employment. Any good jobs with the EU Parliament etc are also closed to them and some people who have worked in the administration of the EU - not just to do with U.K. being a member now find they are ineligible to continue in their jobs.
It is a big mess for so many people now caught in catch 22 situations. It is fine for people who have no real concept of these situations people find themselves in to just think - ah there are only a small percentage this affects - but every part of that percentage is a person who has dreams etc which have been dashed.

nanna8

To come to Europe used to be a kind of rite of passage for young Australians. All that has gone now along with all the lovely final year parties, deb balls , social events. My grandson is a year 12 student who has spent half the year being taught remotely at home. So,so sad. Same applies to uni students. Mostly they have to wear masks in school ( when they are allowed to go ) and 2 of my 3 teenage grandchildren have developed a rash round their mouths from this. We never had to cope with stuff like that. All the kids are the same, class doesn’t enter into it. Public transport is risky, not many use it now and at the moment we are only allowed to travel 5 kms to the next suburb. Our grandson has his driver’s license so he is lucky that way, thank goodness.

I well remember the Aussies and Kiwis who used to come over in the 60's. They'd buy a VW camper, park up around the Aldwych, travel around Europe, return to London, sell on their van and return home, having had a thoroughly enjoyable time in Europe.

ElaineI

None of my children did anything like that. DD1 went into primary education and has worked as a teacher since she graduated with 2 maternity leaves, DS is a programmer working from home with a Spanish company who have home workers in US, Spain, Croatia but UK base in Brighton, DD2 is a CAMHS nurse with 1 maternity leave. They all had decided what career path they wanted before leaving school and followed it. Few of their schoolfriends went to ski resorts to work (or any resorts). Climate change - we are all doing our best. Have read the article (scary) about causes of climate change and acceleration but we are doing all we can to help (my family I mean not World Nations) and sometimes it is better to not concentrate on what horrors might or might not happen as no one actually knows and perhaps nature prevails in the end but none of us know how or when the end will be and you may waste a lot of time worrying about what may or might not happen.

Your children are extremely lucky that they knew what they wanted to do whilst still at school. I had absolutely no idea and several of my friends didn't. Admittedly the careers advice was limited when I was at school. Banks, insurance, teachers' training or uni.

GrannyGravy13

Alegrias1 I know far more youngsters who have traveled to Australia, New Zealand South America, Thailand, India etc than EU Countries.

Some have now settled in those Countries with permanent jobs.

There is absolutely nothing patronising or risible in expanding one’s horizons further than the EU.

Of course its patronising.

The opportunities to go to non-EU countries were always there, as you demonstrate. The opportunites to visit or work in EU countries have now been curtailed. They have less choice. So telling people to expand their horizons when a whole bunch of opportunities have been taken away from them for no valid reason whatsoever, is not just patronising but insulting. Its like telling someone whose house has been destroyed, never mind, now you've got the opportunity to live in a tent!

''I hope none of my grandchildren have pinned their hopes and dreams on being chalet cleaners or holiday reps''

how incredibly patronising! It was just an example because I have so much experience in that field. Many become a lot more after a few years, once they have acquired the language and settled in. Managers, Ski instructors, guides and Head of such services. Managers in Hotels, and many other businesses- building, development, ambulance and air ambulance and so so much more.

Of course there is nothing wrong in wanting to explore the world and work in beyond the EU- who said there was? But you can't just get on your bike and go and travel around and knocking on doors to ask for jobs, without any visa or paperwork in those places- you could until now in the EU, just across the water.

EdithW

I don't think that Brexit voters intended to dash the future for young people. They did not vote that way out of spite but they have made things a lot more difficult for many. We can't think any the worse of them as human beings because they were misguided.

I agree there will always be blame attached to the Conservative government and it will be their worst legacy. Whether they are worried about that is a different matter because they know that voters often have short memories and that the next generation of young voters won't necessarily look back anyway.

I don't suppose they did. But they didn't think.

GG13 if you think more people travel to Thailand and the Far East and work there than EU countries then you obviously haven’t seen the data.

GrannyGravy13

Good try PippaZ if you do read my posts on the political threads you would have seen that I am not a Mr.Johnson fan, but hey ho twisting my words seems to be your ^modus operandi^

Sorry but you haven't responded to Pippa's comment - it's the govt that funds and organizes the educational system. Whether or not you're a fan of Johnson doesn't come into it.

Nothing wrong with working in a ski resort or on a European camp site for the summer- why shouldn’t students from any background want to do this rather than work in their backyard.? Oh no they are all middle class so don’t count. As for getting a permanent job or set up a business or wanting to actually live anywhere else- forget it ( unless you are wealthy obvs) after all everything you need is in the UK ( or rather will be imported from those places you don’t want to go)

Alegrias1 I know far more youngsters who have traveled to Australia, New Zealand South America, Thailand, India etc than EU Countries.

Some have now settled in those Countries with permanent jobs.

There is absolutely nothing patronising or risible in expanding one’s horizons further than the EU.

Callistemon

^Its really hard not to be sarcastic. I've failed^

Do be careful, Alegrias, sarcasm is not allowed ?

I was as annoyed/astonished as anyone but I will say that our family and others I know are not the types to sit bemoaning and hand wringing. They see that difficulties might present themselves and find out how to solve the problems.

If EU employers are asking for applications from only EU passport holders for the types of job carried out by young unskilled people then they might find themselves struggling.
This would exclude not only UK passport holders but adventurous young people from all around the world.

Their businesses must be on the edge anyway, with Covid still around.

I hope they've thought this through properly.

Why would they be struggling? There are 27 countries who can provide young people to work within the EU.

It's more of a problem with not all UK qualifications being accepted now.

Widen your horizons? Brexit has narrowed them for many thanks.

lemongrove

The title of this thread should be: So many dreams for our youngsters ( middle class ones mainly) made slightly more difficult by red tape.

It's not just middle class youngsters who like to work abroad for a season or two before settle down to uni or work and they can no longer do it with ease.

Fair do’s MaizieD but I was not complaining that the thread had “drifted” merely addressing the issue apparently dominating the OP.
Anybody is free to discuss the implications of Brexit or Covid on employment but let’s not muddy the water by complaining that
The Ski Operators are now advertising for staff in all their resorts, requiring an EU passport for all staff, from cleaners, to reps and instructors
I hope none of my grandchildren have pinned their hopes and dreams on being chalet cleaners or holiday reps

Kandinsky

What exactly has brexit taken away from our young people? Apart from a few niche holiday jobs?

I have children & grandchildren & I honestly can’t see a single downside to leaving the EU.

1. Decline in employment opportunities in Europe, both now and when they are older.
2. Decline in personal rights - no longer able to chose to live in places that until 8 months ago they could live in with no paperwork required.
3. More difficult to start businesses that would depend on export to the huge market that is the EU
4. Decline in job prospects in the UK because of the decline in investment by overseas companies
5. Less protection in law (for everybody) due to our withdrawal from EU legal systems
6. Less equivalency of qualifications

That's enough to be going on with. Leaving hasn't actually cost me anything, because I got the benefits of membership when I was a younger woman, working in the EU and for EU-based companies. It won't affect my children and grandchildren because I don't have any. It will affect other people's though Kandinsky, including yours, maybe they'll be blaming granny for voting leave.

And GG13 - telling people to widen their horizons is patronising and risible.