The Truth About Youth: The Challenges and Aspirations of Young People

Nacro’s latest research gathered the views of 240 disadvantaged young people across our education and housing services. We found a generation who feel sidelined and distrustful of those in power, are lonely and isolated, making their worlds smaller due to fear of crime and a lack of opportunities. All the results were more pronounced for young women, with them feeling significantly worse about themselves, more lonely and more worried about crime in their area. We found:

• Over a quarter (27%) of young people said they usually or always feel lonely.
• Nearly a quarter (24%) young people said they rarely or never feel good about themselves.
• More than one in five (22%) told us they have been a victim of crime, but only 35% said they trusted the police
• Only one in five (20%) thought that their generation would have a better life than the previous one.
• Nearly a third (30%) told us they are often or always hopeful for the future.
• Nearly three-quarters (73%) said they feel people who run the country never or rarely listen to them or people living a similar life to them. Over two-thirds (69%) also say that politicians never or rarely talk about things that matter to them.

A unheard generation

We interviewed and surveyed 240 young people in total. These are young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, a large portion were on free school meals, were care-experienced, had special education needs and were from communities with high levels of social inequality. The young people we surveyed are the most excluded in society, and the least likely to be heard by those in power. Their views and experiences reflect this.

Media coverage on young people twice as likely to be negative than positive

The media in the UK has a significant influence on society’s opinion of and attitude towards young people. What the press says both influences and reflects public attitudes. To understand how the media portray young people we commissioned a media review of articles about young people over the past year in mainstream media outlets. We found that media coverage of young people is twice as likely to be negative (28%) than positive (14%), with 58% neutral in tone. Young people were talked about but rarely quoted or interviewed. Only 21% of articles reviewed directly included a young persons’ perspective. The research found common themes in the way young people are portrayed in the media. In order of frequency they are:

Nacro are now calling for:

1. There must be targeted efforts to engage and consult young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and talk in ways which resonate with them.
2. The police must proactively work to gain young people’s trust and ensure they feel safe in their local areas.
3. The Government should invest in youth services and youth workers to rebuild the support structure around young people, particularly those most disadvantaged. These must work for young people with different interests, including young women, and ensure access to sports, arts and creative activities.
4. All policy making and decisions should proactively use a gender, race and intersectional lens to identify where experiences are different and what steps can be taken as a result.