Younger generation need a future to look forward to

Premier League football has returned - but will teams like Sheffield United be able to keep their impressive pre-coronavirus form?

Will clubs that were doing well before maintain that level of success and will those who were struggling be able to revive their fortunes ?

They will have been rehearsing their free kicks etc., as we return to shops and workplaces reopening, to the new norm of social distancing, with no time to rehearse our routines .

However, it is a welcome boost to our flagging economy and will hopefully save many struggling businesses.

With the welcome easing of lockdown, some grandparents have the opportunity to associate with their families, particularly grandchildren.

Unfortunately there is no easing yet of those who have been ‘shielding’, another new word in our vocabulary with social distancing.

While the pandemic has been particularly challenging for the elderly, we must not forget the young have had their challenges too, and hopefully these will be alleviated so as not blight their futures.

It is well documented the disruption caused to schoolchildren. Online teaching has helped some, but no substitute for them working and playing together, resulting no doubt to some having psychological issues, hopefully short-term.

It is not sadly only those of those school age who have suffered, as the economy has shrunk, but those young people leaving to seek employment opportunities from colleges and universities also.

These are bound to have reduced as firms contract and shed, rather than recruit staff.

We cannot have a whole generation whose futures are blighted, for their sake and the nation’s future also.

As the percentage of elderly in our population increase every year we have to ensure we have the skills of the new younger generation to revitalise our economy in the future.

We have allocated huge resources to furlough employees, support businesses and build up our NHS to combat coronavirus.

We have to now invest similarly in our young people’s futures, financially and creativity, to give them a future they can look forward to.

All sections of society need to come together so hopefully, the fairer, inclusive, environmentally friendly world we aspire to includes well-motivated and educated young people ready to play an important role.

That will only come if we address their issues with the same vigour as others. We abandon them at our peril.