What many people don’t realise is that it takes even more money not to help Neets (“Neets can be helped, but it takes money”, FE Focus, March 5).

Next time Asha Khemka has a meeting with the DCSF (Department for Children, Schools and Families) to persuade them to fund her college’s admirable work with young people who have been failed by the system, she may wish to refer them to the research by the CBI, “Towards a Neet Solution”, October 2008.

This has shown that the lifetime cost of one person in the Neet (not in education, employment or training) group is pound;97,000. This is just in terms of being unemployed or being in low paid work, social and health disadvantages (both themselves and their children) and possibly a life of crime and antisocial behaviour.

Beyond this, of course, there are benefits to society in general. Educated people or those in work are generally better citizens, better neighbours.

Karamat Iqbal, Diversity consultant, Forward Partnership.