Autism diagnosis ‘helped me launch my career’, says youth worker

A youth worker has described how an autism diagnosis became the “catalyst” to a career helping others.

James Dowdle works with the Warren Youth Project, in Hull, to support young people into employment.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has vowed to “abolish long-term youth unemployment” by guaranteeing a paid work placement for those who have been out of employment or education for 18 months.

James, 28, from Barton-upon-Humber, North Lincolnshire, believes the key lies in breaking down barriers to working and said their diagnosis in 2022 “answered a few questions about my struggles”.

“It made me feel a lot better about myself, a lot more capable,” they added.

James had felt “lost and aimless” after finishing a university degree at home during the Covid-19 pandemic and then struggled to find work for about two years.

However, following the autism diagnosis and a move to London, they secured a job in employment support with the St Giles Trust.

“I saw all the opportunities people had in London, whether that was work placements or whether it was just jobs in general, and it made me think about what was available back home,” James told the BBC’s Politics North show.

Since returning north to join the Warren earlier this year, James has been working with young people facing a variety of issues.

“For some it’s about looking at apprenticeships or college, for others it’s about getting a job to earn some money,” they said.

“We also see other barriers such as mental health, substance misuse, someone facing homelessness and sometimes debt.”

According to recent figures, there are 948,000 people in the UK aged between 16 and 24 who are not in education, employment or training.

James said that while managing “different barriers” was key to tackling the issue, success would also require time and money, with “consistent funding” from the government.

“People will always need support into work and people will always face barriers,” they added.

A government spokesperson said nearly a million young people had been “locked out of the system” and were being “written off”.

Those not in work or education and on Universal Credit for 18 months would be offered “a guaranteed job through our new Youth Guarantee”.

“This comes as we partner with business to create opportunities and test new ways of delivering targeted youth employment support,” the spokesperson added.