1,012,000 young people NEET in the UK — ONS Q1 2026
Less screen.
More life.

Dewire.life helps young people and their parents reduce screen dependency — and find clear pathways into work, education, and training. Free, always.

1M+
Young people NEET
ONS, May 2026
13.5%
of 16–24 year olds
ONS, May 2026
7hrs
Avg daily screen 18–24
Ofcom / DataReportal
The evidence is clear.
The time to act is now.
📱
Young adults 18–24 average 7 hours of screen time daily — the highest of any age group. Teenagers 13–18 average 8h 39m, up from 7h 22m in 2019.
Ofcom 2025 · DataReportal 2026
😟
73% of 18–24 year olds believe social media negatively affects their mental health. Teens spending 3+ hours daily face double the risk of anxiety and depression.
📉
1,012,000 young people aged 16–24 are NEET — the highest level in over 12 years, driven by young people no longer looking for work.
🔬
UK longitudinal study: increasing social media use from 7 to 74 mins daily led to a 35% jump in depressive symptoms over three years in young people aged 9–10.
Real life starts hereLess screen, more youSaturday jobs near you30-day challengeApprenticeshipsPeer accountabilityFree coursesFor employersDewire your life Real life starts hereLess screen, more youSaturday jobs near you30-day challengeApprenticeshipsPeer accountabilityFree coursesFor employersDewire your life
Who is Dewire.life for?

Two audiences.
One mission.

For parents of 13–17 year olds
Your teenager isn't broken. They're just rewired.
  • Practical guides to have the phone conversation — without a fight
  • Weekly family offline challenges that actually build habits
  • Community of parents who understand exactly where you are
  • Pathways to get your teenager back into education or work
For young adults 18–24
What are you actually missing out on?
  • 30-day challenges with real peer accountability groups
  • Streak Wall — consistency celebrated, not just winning
  • Saturday jobs, apprenticeships, and free courses near you
  • No lectures. No judgment. Just possibilities.
The evidence

Why this matters.
The data.

Every figure on Dewire.life is sourced from peer-reviewed research, official government statistics, or established research organisations.

1M+
Young people NEET in UK
The highest figure in over 12 years. 1,012,000 young people aged 16–24 not in education, employment or training as of Q1 2026 — up 55,000 in one quarter.
ONS, May 2026
7hrs
Daily screen time, 18–24 year olds
UK adults aged 18–24 spend over 6h 20m online daily per Ofcom. Globally, the 18–24 group averages 7–8 hours — the highest of any demographic tracked.
Ofcom 2025 · DataReportal 2026
73%
of 18–24s say social media harms mental health
73% of young adults believe social media negatively affects their mental health. Among heavy teen users, 41% rate their mental health as poor or very poor.
SQ Magazine, 2026
2×
Depression risk at 3+ hours social media daily
Research of 12–15 year olds found those spending over 3 hours daily on social media faced twice the risk of negative mental health outcomes including depression and anxiety.
Yale Medicine / JAMA Paediatrics
35%
Rise in depressive symptoms with more social media
UK longitudinal study: increasing use from 7 to 74 minutes daily was associated with a 35% jump in depressive symptoms over three years in children aged 9–10.
UCL / JMIR, 2023
54%
of teenagers: phone is "difficult to control"
A January 2026 Pew Research survey found 54% of teenagers describe their relationship with their phone as difficult to control, and 38% feel anxious when separated from it for 30 minutes.
Pew Research, Jan 2026
How it works

Four steps.
Real change.

01
Take the quiz
8 honest questions. No sign-up needed. Your screen dependency score and personalised starting point in 2 minutes.
Free · No account needed
02
Join the Streak Wall
Complete daily offline challenges. Get on the public Streak Wall. Earn badges worth sharing to Instagram Stories. Consistency celebrated, not just winning.
Peer accountability · Badges
03
Find real opportunities
Saturday jobs shown first. Apprenticeships, free courses, volunteering, and careers — filtered by your location and experience level. Apply directly.
Near you · Entry level first
04
Go live it
The only platform designed for you to use it less over time. We're not replacing your screen — we're replacing what was on it.
Mission complete
The Streak Wall

People showing up.
Every single day.

No followers. No likes. Just streaks. Day 3 is just as celebrated as Day 30 — because showing up consistently is the hardest part.

Day 30 🎉
🌟
Tyler B.
Birmingham
30 days
Dewired
🏆🌍💼
🔥
Priya K.
Leeds
22 days
On fire
📡🌍
Jordan M.
Manchester
17 days
Solid
📡
🌱
Sam T.
Bristol
12 days
Growing
📡
🎯
Chloe R.
London
9 days
Focused
📡
New ✦
🚀
Marcus W.
Newcastle
3 days
Started
📡

Earn badges. Actually worth sharing.

📡
First Signal
Completed Day 1
Earned
🌍
Outer World
Logged a real activity
Earned
🌑
Gone Dark
First phone-free day
🤝
In The Room
Joined a peer group
💼
Hired
Got a job via Dewire.life
🎓
Enrolled
Started a course
🔥
Streak of 7
7 days straight
🏆
Dewired
30-day challenge done
The quiz

How wired
are you?

8 questions. No sign-up. 2 minutes. Your honest score and a personalised next step.

Q 1 of 8
How many hours a day do you (or your teenager) spend on a phone?
Q 2 of 8
First thing you reach for when you wake up?
Q 3 of 8
Battery dies, can't charge. How do you feel?
Q 4 of 8
Last time you spent a full day completely offline?
Q 5 of 8
How often do you open social media without meaning to?
Q 6 of 8
How would you describe your current situation?
Q 7 of 8
Last time you felt genuinely good — where were you?
Q 8 of 8
3 fewer hours on your phone daily — what changes?
0
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Everything in one place

The Dewire.life
platform

📅
30-Day Challenge
One action per day. Two tracks. Streaks, peer groups, badges.
🔍
Find Work & Study
Saturday jobs first. Apprenticeships, free courses. Location + experience filters.
💬
Parent Hub
Conversation guides, family challenges, community forum.
📍
Activity Finder
Local clubs, sports, arts, and volunteering. Free options always first.
🏢
For Employers
Up to £5,000+ in incentives. Zero NI on under-21s. Post a free role.
👥
Peer Groups
Small accountability groups of 5–10. Shared challenge. No algorithms.

30 days.
One action at a time.

Science says habits form in 21–66 days. We give you 30 with structure, peer support, and badges worth sharing. Day 3 counts just as much as Day 30.

Today — Day 1 · Young Adult track
Go outside for 20 minutes. No phone.
Walk. Sit. Stand. Be somewhere that isn't a screen. That's it for today.
Supported by
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Browse now →
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🌲
Center Parcs Short Breaks
Screen-free family activities. Forest lodges, sports, adventures.
Book a break →
For employers

Hiring young people
makes financial sense.

Most small businesses don't know what's available. Zero NI on under-21s. Up to £5,000+ in stacked incentives. 100% funded training. We break it all down and help you post a free role.

Zero employer NI
Under 21s & apprentices under 25
Saves up to £3,000+ per employee per year at the current 15% rate
SME hiring grant — Oct 2026
£2,000 per apprentice aged 16–24
New government incentive for non-levy paying small businesses
UC Youth Jobs Grant
£3,000 per eligible hire
Available to all employers. Candidate must be 18–24 on UC for 6+ months
Get the daily
challenge nudge.

Sign up and we'll send you one small offline action every day for 30 days. No spam. Unsubscribe any time.

Your email is only used to send the 30-day challenge. See our Privacy Policy.
Sources & references

Everything here
is evidenced.

Built on published research, official government statistics, and peer-reviewed studies. Cite your own? Get in touch.

NEET Statistics Q1 2026
Office for National Statistics (ONS)
ons.gov.uk →
Adults' Media Use & Attitudes 2025
Ofcom
ofcom.org.uk →
Digital 2026 Mid-Year Update
DataReportal / Kepios
datareportal.com →
Longitudinal Impact of Social Media on UK Adolescent Mental Health
UCL / JMIR, 2023
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov →
Social Media & Teen Mental Health Guide
Yale Medicine
yalemedicine.org →
Apprenticeship Employer Incentives 2026
Tess Group / ActivFirst / GOV.UK
tessgroup.co.uk →
NI Relief for Young Workers 2026
HMRC / GoFile
gofile.co.uk →
Screen Time Statistics 2026
Pew Research / Screen Time Buddy / Backlinko
screentimebuddy.com →
Social Media Mental Health Statistics
SQ Magazine, 2026
sqmagazine.co.uk →

From Saturday jobs
to careers.

Entry-level always shown first. Saturday jobs prioritised — because the first payslip changes everything.

Search
Location
Experience
Hours
Sector
Live GOV.UK listings: launching at launch — showing curated examples now
⭐ Saturday & weekend jobs — always shown first
🛒
★ Saturday job — prioritised
Weekend · Retail
Sales Assistant — Saturdays
Morrison's · Leeds City Centre · £8.60/hr · Every Saturday
No experience16+Start this monthStaff discount
£8.60/hr
★ Saturday job — prioritised
Weekend · Hospitality
Barista & Front of House
Independent café · Manchester NQ · £9.00/hr · Sat–Sun
No experience16+Tips on top
£9.00/hr
🌿
★ Saturday job — prioritised
Weekend · Outdoors
Garden Centre Assistant
Notcutts · Bristol · £8.60/hr · Weekends
No experience16+Outdoors role
£8.60/hr
Part-time & flexible
📦
Part-time · Logistics
Warehouse Operative — 20hrs/week
Amazon · Birmingham · £11.44/hr · Flexible shifts
No experience18+Weekly pay
£11.44/hr
🎭
Part-time · Arts & culture
Visitor Experience Assistant
National Museum · London · £10.80/hr · Weekends + weekdays
No experience18+
£10.80/hr
🎓 Apprenticeships — earn while you learn, training 100% funded 16–21
💻
Apprenticeship · Level 3 · Tech
Digital Marketing Apprenticeship
Multiple employers · England-wide · From £6.40/hr · 18 months
Training fundedEarn while learningNo experience needed
From £6.40/hr
🔧
Apprenticeship · Level 2 · Trades
Electrical Installation Apprentice
JTL Training · Nationwide · From £6.40/hr · 3 years
Training fundedNo experience neededStrong career path
From £6.40/hr
🏥
Apprenticeship · Level 3 · Health
Healthcare Support Worker Apprenticeship
NHS · Various trusts · England · 15 months
Training fundedNHS contractNo experience needed
NHS band 2
📚 Free courses & qualifications
🖥️
Skills Bootcamp · 16 weeks · Tech
Full-Stack Web Development
Government funded · Online + in-person · Nationwide · Monthly starts
Completely freeJob guaranteeBeginner friendly
Free
🏗️
T-Level · 2 years · Construction
T-Level: Design, Surveying & Planning
Local colleges nationwide · 45-day industry placement included
Completely freeA-Level equivalentUniversity pathway
Free
🤝 Volunteering — build your CV, get references
🌲
Volunteering · Outdoors · National Trust
Conservation Volunteer
Your local area · Flexible hours · References provided · Any age
Free to joinCV builderReferences provided
Voluntary
🌟 Career roles — entry level and above
📊
Full-time · Entry level · Finance
Junior Financial Analyst — Graduate Scheme
KPMG · London / UK-wide · £28,000 · September intake
Graduate entryStructured trainingPension + benefits
£28k
🌱
Full-time · Entry level · Environment
Environmental Monitoring Officer
Environment Agency · Multiple regions · £24,000
No degree neededCivil service pensionOutdoors
£24k
Live listings at launch: This section will pull live data from the GOV.UK Apprenticeship Service, Find a Job, and partner boards — updated daily. Saturday jobs and no-experience roles always shown first. Search GOV.UK apprenticeships directly →
Explore by sector

Find your direction.

💻
Tech & Digital
Web developer, UX designer, data analyst, IT support
Entry: Bootcamp or apprenticeship →
🏥
Health & Care
Healthcare assistant, care worker, pharmacy tech
Entry: NHS apprenticeship →
🔧
Trades
Electrician, plumber, carpenter, site manager
Entry: Level 2 apprenticeship →
🛒
Retail & Hospitality
Shop floor to management, chef, events
Entry: Saturday job →
💰
Finance
Accountant, financial adviser, HR, analyst
Entry: Finance apprenticeship →
🎨
Creative & Media
Graphic designer, filmmaker, journalist, PR
Entry: Creative apprenticeship →
🌱
Environment
Conservation, landscape, renewables tech
Entry: Volunteering + T-Level →
🚒
Public Services
Police, fire, armed forces, civil service
Entry: Direct application →
← Back to home

Hiring young people
is good for business.

Most small businesses don't know what's on the table. Up to £5,000+ in incentives, zero NI on under-21s, fully funded training. Here's everything, plainly explained.

£5,000+
Max stacked incentives
£3,000+
NI savings per year
100%
Training funded 16–21
0%
Employer NI under 25
Tess Group / GOV.UK 2026
Every incentive explained

What's actually
on the table.

Real, current UK government payments and savings — updated for 2026. Most small employers don't know they exist.

National Insurance Relief
0%
Zero employer NI — under-21s & apprentices under 25
No employer NI on wages up to £50,270 for employees under 21 and apprentices under 25. At 15%, that's up to £3,000+ saved per employee per year.
Who qualifies: All employees under 21 (HMRC cat. M) and apprentices under 25 (cat. H). Automatic — no application.
New Oct 2026
SME Apprenticeship Grant
£2,000
New SME hiring incentive — from October 2026
Non-levy SMEs receive £2,000 for every apprentice aged 16–24 they hire — on top of all other incentives and on top of fully funded training costs.
Who qualifies: Non-levy SMEs hiring apprentices aged 16–24. Must have started employment within previous 3 months.
Apprenticeship Incentive Payment
£1,000
Hiring bonus for young apprentices
Paid in two instalments of £500 via your training provider. Use for salary, travel, uniform, or equipment. Not deducted from your levy account.
Who qualifies: Hiring apprentices aged 16–18, or 19–24 with EHC plan or care-leaver status.
Foundation Apprenticeship Incentive
£2,000
Foundation apprenticeship payment
Shorter programmes (min 8 months) for younger learners. Paid in three instalments via your training provider.
Who qualifies: Apprentices aged 16–21 on an eligible foundation apprenticeship (extended to 22–24 for EHC holders / care leavers).
Universal Credit Youth Jobs Grant
£3,000
Hire someone on Universal Credit
The largest single per-hire cash payment. If you hire an 18–24 year old who has been claiming Universal Credit for 6+ months, you receive £3,000. Available to all employers.
Who qualifies: All employers. Candidate must be 18–24 on UC for 6+ months. Live from June 2026.
Jobs Guarantee Scheme
100%
All employment costs covered — 6 months
New scheme subsidises all employment costs for 18–21 year olds on Universal Credit for 18+ months — up to 25hrs/week for 6 months. Effectively a free trial hire.
Who qualifies: All employers. Candidate must be 18–21 on UC for 18+ months. Rolling out nationally 2026.
Training Costs
100%
Fully funded training for 16–21 apprentices
Government covers 100% of training costs for apprentices aged 16–21 (non-levy employers). For 22+, 95% (or 100% via levy transfer).
Who qualifies: Non-levy SMEs. Levy-paying employers use levy funds directly.
T-Level Placements
Free to you
T-Level industry placements — 45 days at no cost
T-Level students must complete a 45-day placement. Costs you nothing and gives you a motivated young person on a structured programme.
Who qualifies: Any employer. Register with a local T-Level college.
Your numbers

What would it actually
cost — or save?

Tell us about the role. We'll calculate your real first-year saving including incentives, grants, and NI relief.

About the role
Your estimated first-year saving & incentives
£0
in grants, incentives & NI savings (est.)
Note: Estimates based on current 2026 government rates. Exact eligibility depends on your circumstances. Always verify with a training provider or HMRC.
The honest conversation

Your concerns are real.
Here's the reality.

Concern
The worry
The reality
National Insurance costs
Employer NI at 15% adds significantly on top of wages
Very expensive
Zero employer NI for under-21s and apprentices under 25 — saving up to £3,000+ per year
Training time and cost
I don't have time to train someone from scratch
High up-front burden
100% of apprenticeship training is government-funded for 16–21. The training provider handles the structured learning.
Safeguarding & compliance
Under-18s mean extra legal requirements
Feels complex
An enhanced DBS check (£18) covers most roles. Training providers handle the framework. We guide you step by step.
Reliability and commitment
Young people don't always show up
Based on real experience
Dewire.life candidates have completed our 30-day challenge — demonstrating they can commit to something difficult.
What if it doesn't work out?
Employment law makes it risky
Feels risky
The Jobs Guarantee Scheme funds a 6-month trial at no cost — the lowest-risk hire you'll ever make.
Post a role

List your vacancy.
Free for small businesses.

From Saturday jobs to full apprenticeships. Post on Dewire.life and reach motivated young people in your area.

Free for businesses under 50 employees
No placement fee. No subscription. Supported by ethical advertising.
Saturday jobs to apprenticeships welcome
All types. All sectors. All experience levels.
Incentive guidance included
We tell you exactly what you're eligible for before you post.
Prefer to speak first? Email hello@dewire.life — we'll respond within one working day.
Post a role
Takes 5 minutes. Live within 24 hours.
← Back to home

You're not failing.
You're facing something new.

Practical guides, family challenges, community support, and pathways to get your teenager back on track.

Guides & resources

Start here.

Click any guide to read it in full. No sign-up required.

Conversation guide · 8 min read
The Phone Chat: how to say it without a fight
A step-by-step script for raising phone use with your teenager — including exactly what to say when they push back hard.
Read guide
Understanding · 10 min read
Why teenagers can't "just put it down"
The neuroscience of dopamine loops and social validation — and why willpower alone doesn't work against app design.
Read guide
Family challenge · 6 min read
The No-Phone Dinner: Week 1
One week. One meal a day without phones. How to make it stick — and what to do when it falls apart on day two.
Start challenge
Pathways · 10 min read
My teenager has dropped out. What now?
A calm guide to re-entry — colleges, apprenticeships, T-Levels, Saturday jobs, and how to approach the conversation.
Read guide
Mental health · 9 min read
Screen dependency vs depression: spotting the difference
When to be worried, what to look for, and where to get professional help without making things worse.
Read guide
Community · 7 min read
"Day 4 — he actually laughed at dinner."
Real accounts from parents who were where you are, and what happened when they tried something different.
Read stories
← Back to home

You're not lazy.
You're just rewired.

No lectures. No judgment. A way back to the stuff that actually feels good — and the opportunities that go with it.

Take the quiz first
2 minutes. No sign-up. Your honest score and a personalised starting point — not a lecture.
🔥
Join the Streak Wall
Public streaks. Real badges worth sharing. Celebrated for showing up — not for being the best.
🔍
Jobs & courses near you
Saturday jobs first. Apprenticeships, free courses. Filtered by location and experience level.
📍
Activity Finder
Local clubs, sport, arts, volunteering this week. Free options first. Something for everyone.
👥
Join a peer accountability group
5–10 people. Same 30-day challenge. Group check-ins. No algorithms, no pressure — just people doing the same thing alongside you.
← Back to home

Real things to do.
Near you. This week.

Free and low-cost activities always shown first. Sports, arts, volunteering, outdoors — get off the phone and into the world.

Sport & fitness
5-a-side football — beginners welcome
Various venues · Saturday mornings · All ages
FreeBeginnersSocial
🌲
Outdoors & nature
Parkrun — 5km every Saturday
800+ UK locations · Saturday 9am · Free forever
FreeAll abilitiesCommunity
🎨
Arts & creative
Life drawing class — drop in
Community arts centres · Various days · £3–8
Low costNo experience
🌿
Volunteering
National Trust conservation days
Local sites · Flexible · References provided
FreeCV builderOutdoors
📚
Learning
Free coding workshops — Code Club
Libraries & community centres · Various days
FreeBeginner
🏊
Sport & fitness
Community swimming — off-peak
Local leisure centres · Weekday mornings · From £2.50
Low costAll abilities
🎵
Arts & creative
Community choir — no audition
Churches & halls nationwide · Weekly
FreeSocial
🚴
Outdoors
Cycling UK — beginner group rides
Nationwide · Weekend mornings · Free to join
FreeBeginners
More activities at launch: The Activity Finder will integrate with Sport England's OpenActive data, Eventbrite, and local council open datasets to surface real, current local activities. Learn about OpenActive →
← Back to home

30 days.
One action at a time.

Not a detox. A reset. Daily nudges, peer support, and badges worth sharing.

Young Adult Track
Screen Swap Challenge
Each day, swap one hour of scrolling for something real. Logged on honour system. Peer group included. Badges at Day 1, 7, 14 and 30.
Day 1
Go outside for 20 minutes. No phone.
Walk. Sit. Stand. Be somewhere that isn't a screen.
Day 7
Find one thing near you to do this weekend.
Use the Activity Finder. Book it or just turn up.
Day 14
Have a full conversation — no phone present.
No glancing. No checking. Just the other person.
Day 30
You're Dewired. Share your streak.
Screenshot your result. Share to Stories. Inspire someone else to start.
Family Track
Family Reset Challenge
For parents doing this alongside their teenager. Daily micro-challenges that don't require a fight. Gentle, consistent, cumulative.
Day 1
Have dinner without phones tonight.
Just tonight. No pressure beyond that.
Day 7
Do something together that doesn't involve a screen.
Walk, cook, drive somewhere. Anything counts.
Day 14
Talk about what's next. Over food.
The conversation guide will help. No agenda needed.
Day 30
You've both done something hard together.
Tell us how it went. Your story helps other families.
← Back to home

Why Dewire.life exists.

The story, the mission, and the people behind it.

Why I built this.

I'm a Sales Director at a global engineering manufacturing company. Nine years ago I walked out of university and into that job — nervous, underprepared, and grateful for the opportunity. So when I started struggling to hire graduates into the same kind of entry-level roles, I paid attention.

It wasn't dramatic at first. Fewer people turning up to open days. Candidates at the very start of their careers making salary demands that didn't match the reality of where they were. A general sense that something had shifted in the gap between university and the workplace. I noticed it, filed it away, and assumed it was a blip.

It wasn't a blip. I started digging — LinkedIn, industry conversations, news, research. The NEET figures stopped me cold. Over a million young people in the UK not in education, employment or training. An influx of government employer incentives that only exist because the problem is serious enough to require intervention. A post-COVID generation that had spent its most formative years behind a screen, often with nowhere obvious to go when those screens were put down.

The screen dependency piece clicked personally. I caught myself reaching for my phone without knowing why — checking for validation, filling silence, killing time. I've been doing it for years. And I'm a 30-something with a career, a structure, a reason to be somewhere every morning. I can only imagine what it feels like at 17 or 21, with none of that, and a phone that offers something that feels like connection on demand.

If I — a director at a globally successful company — can't find the young people I need, that's not a recruiting problem. That's a signal. And if I can see my own dependency in a mild form and recognise how much harder it must hit a teenager with no structure around them, that's not a theory. That's empathy built from honest self-reflection.

So I built Dewire.life. Not because I had a tech background or a venture capital deck. Because I felt compelled. Because the problem was visible from where I was standing, the dots connected clearly, and nobody seemed to be joining them up in a way that was practical, free, and genuinely useful to everyone involved — employers who need young people, parents trying to guide them, and young adults who just need a push in the right direction and a guided path to something real.

"If I can't hire successfully as a director at a globally successful company, that speaks to a wider problem. I felt compelled to do something about it."

— Founder, Dewire.life · Ebbsfleet, Kent

Get in touch

🌐
Website
dewire.life
📍
Based in
Ebbsfleet, Kent
🤝
Partnerships & sponsorship
🏢
For press enquiries, research collaboration, or schools partnerships, please email hello@dewire.life.
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Cookie Policy

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