@ViewAhead I don't think there's a mathematical formula for quantifying the benefits to young people of the opportunity to broaden their experience, knowledge, horizons and contacts, both personal and future professional, that schemes like Erasmus offer. Maybe some bright spark will come up with one or maybe you just need to compare the outcomes of similar students in the UK and EU who have developed without and with Erasmus. Don't foget that Erasmus is one official, supported means of broadening one's life. The free movement of individuals and families in the EU for work, study and play under their own steam is also a life enhancing opportunity for those who wish to take it.
Why does it cost money, lots of it, to join a scheme that is supposed to be a two way thing? Edit sorry missed you post @ViewAhead .
If the polls do suggest that its mostly due to the hash they made of leaving and followed by the covid debarcle then the Ukraine mess. People dont feel better off because of those things, so the labour government has now using Brexit as the reason, they even tried it on their second budget, not a mention in their first budget. I dont think Europe is doing particularly well regarding growth in their economies either.
Maybe not ... but you have to factor in it is tax-payer money, so young people unable to benefit (for whatever reason) are paying for others to do so. Previous generations managed without and still became useful members of society. I'm not against it, but is it one of the more urgent burdens on the public purse?
The government keep saying we are broke and in the next step start throwing money around, none of it makes sense to me. A bloke on TV today was saying they would do better spending more on something for teenagers to do in the evenings and socially, get work experience etc.maybe cut crime to some extent, at least if they had more clubs and activities they wouldn't have the excuse of nothing to do.
On a slightly more lighter note has anyone else noticed recently the similarity in photos of Trump and the former prince Andrew ? Both frowning and looking extremely grumpy - the only difference being in the hair. Large orange halo effect as opposed to rapidly balding. Neither of whom you would wish to encounter in real life
@pete overall EU GDP grew by about 1% in 2024 so a similar performance to the UK tho Malta managed 5% and Spain over 2%. I agree that money invested in youth programmes as well as sporting and social facilities - halls, grounds, equipment, transport etc - for everyone from babies and toddlers to pensioners and all ages in between would be a better investment than trying to pick up the pieces and fix the mental, social and physical problems to individuals and their environment that can arise from people being isolated, lonely, bored, unfulfilled, frustrated which can all lead to illness, unemployment, despair and vandalism.
@Obelix-Vendée I agree with you about the value of youth programmes but there is one potential problem. Young people from mainland Europe will want to come to the UK to help improve their English, and that in itself is to be applauded, but those numbers are likely to vastly outnumber the number of Brits heading the other direction. It's important that countries contribute fairly to the costs. I'm concerned that the UK will once again bear an unfair proportion of costs.
I believe that the money from governments goes to a central Erasmus fund which then pays out as required to the students and institutions. As to who Erasmus is for it "supports students, young people, and staff working in education, youth and grassroots sports to travel abroad to study, train, teach, or volunteer." And yes the tax payer needs to spend more money on supporting youth clubs, all kinds of sport for young people plus all the other forms of youth social activities, such as choirs, drama societies etc.
Going bald runs in Andrew's family look at Prince William, so not AI. I thought that the US president was supposed to have a halo being a heavenly being with divine powers. Orange glow is caused by reflection from skin colourants. So AI unlikely.
But all these died out 20+ years ago because the youngsters were no longer interested. They'd rather be attached to a phone or computer.
Not so @Sheal. Plent of young people would be involved in sports, arts, community activities given half a chance but for most of them their mobile phone is all they have. Look at the number of councils closing sports fields, athletics centres, swimming pools, libraries, play centres and activities for older folk because they're having to cut immediate spending. So short sighted. As for Erasmus, yes, people will want to come to the UK for their English but, frankly, Ireland is as good for that and more friendly for many and already in Erasmus. In 2020, the last year in which the UK participated in Erasmus , the scheme received €144m (£126m) of EU funding for 55,700 people to take part in Erasmus projects overall. The UK sent out 9,900 students and trainees to other countries as part of the scheme that year, while 16,100 came the other way. Some analysts calculate that Brexit has cost the UK economy £100billion a year so future Erasmus funding contributions will be a drop in the ocean in comparison but invaluable for those with the gumption to benefit.
UK universities have lost a few hundred million since we came out of the EU Erasmus scheme due to students not coming. A lot of EU countries already teach English in school/college/university and I understand that it is compulsory in Germany. So they don't really need to come here to learn English but they can improve their English by being here.
To decide whether it is an effective use of tax-payer money, you would need to break down the numbers to see who is benefiting - how many children from poorer backgrounds get the opportunity v how many from private schools, etc. Is it really just a scheme helping those who already have advantages? Plus, is an equivalent amount of money being poured into things that less academic young people would benefit from, eg apprenticeships? Social mobility in this country has always been poor, but now it is practically non-existent. I'd rather we spent money addressing that really.
