New research shows sports participation in school is associated with higher levels of wellbeing for young people. It also shows that participation in sport is a significant predictor of self-belief and mental toughness and the continued promotion of school sport throughout a child’s time at school, up to and including during exams, should be encouraged.

Two-thirds of children in custody have been in local authority care, a new report finds, prompting calls for an improvement in relationships between children and staff to create a “stable environment” for young people

An inquiry by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Young and Young Adult Carers has revealed the devastating impact caring has on the life opportunities of the UK’s young people.

Ofcom has published new research exploring how children communicate online in the UK. The research uses a survey and interviews with 11- to 18-year-olds to look at children’s online experiences. Findings include: 60% of 11- to 18-year-olds have experienced some form of potentially uncomfortable interactions/conversations when communicating online at some point in the past; including 13% who have been sent pictures or videos of naked or half-dressed people and 10% who have ever been asked to share these types of pictures or videos themselves; and for many potentially uncomfortable forms of contact, the experience often occurs within/during the first contact with the person or people in question.

This report sets out the first complete number of 16- and 17-year-olds who present as homeless to local authorities across the country. Approximately 6,000 children aged 16 and 17 presented as homeless to their local authority in 2022-23. The data revealed that in 2022-23 a total of 6,469 children aged 16 and 17 sought help from their local authority, or were referred by another person or agency for help, because they were homeless or were threatened with homelessness.

Fear of violence made a fifth of children miss school at least once in the last year, a survey by the Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) suggests. The trust's research, conducted online with survey provider Walr, found 1,244 (16%) of the 7,574 respondents in England and Wales had been a victim of violence in the last 12 months. Of those who took part, 1,533 children (20%) had skipped school at some point in the last year due to feeling unsafe.

Ofsted, the CQC and HMICFRS have published a joint report on the multi-agency response to children and families who need help, noting how a lack of capacity and resources across health, police and social care is limiting local areas’ ability to make early help services a clear priority. Across the local agencies, the report found there were well-trained and knowledgeable early help workers from a range of agencies undertaking effective work with children and families. However, staff working in early help services were increasingly working with highly complex family situations, and sometimes above a level they felt was appropriate. Knowing where to go if risks escalate was key and for some children and families the skills and expertise of a social worker was needed.

NYA have shared our latest research report which shows the link between the lack of youth work provision and engagement in the criminal justice system. It cites a recent study focussing on the youth centre provision in London which shows that crime participation amongst 10-15 year olds increased by 10% in those London boroughs affected most by youth centre closures between 2010-19. Suspensions from school were also 12% more likely in those areas

Ofsted has published results of a survey asking children, learners, parents, foster carers, social workers and other professionals about their experiences of children’s social care with most children in foster care always feeling safe. Almost all of the children in foster care (99%) who responded said they always feel safe where they live and are more likely to always feel safe compared to children in other types of care. Responses were similarly positive among children living in children’s homes, with 95% saying they felt safe where they lived ‘always’ or ‘most of the time’..

Published by the APPG for Creative Diversity, this new research looks at the role of higher education in tackling barriers to working in the creative sector and offers recommendations for policy makers.