The London Community Foundation sent out a survey in early August to assess the impact of the Far-Right Riots on London local organisations and the communities they serve. The survey captured feedback from various organisations, from newly established groups run by volunteers to large charities. Several critical themes emerged from the survey, highlighting the multifaceted impact of the riots on London’s communities:

This briefing looks at what data and statistics are available about child neglect to help professionals, and the organisations they work for, make evidence-based decisions. This includes information from different sources such as services that work with children and research into children’s and adults’ self-reported experiences.

Schools cannot give children the opportunities they deserve if they are not in lessons. Lost learning is a risk to education standards and a loss of potential. And there is a stark social injustice in who is affected: the children losing the most learning are those facing the greatest challenges in their lives. This report explores the rising tide of lost learning, and sets out a strong economic case to invest in reducing escalations. The report findings include:

New analysis for this report finds lifetime costs of at least £170,000 per child directly associated with permanent exclusion – for last year’s excluded cohort alone this means costs to the state of £1.6 billion over a lifetime.

Children from low-income backgrounds, with special educational needs, and those with mental health issues are the most likely to miss learning. Children who are Black Caribbean are two and half times more likely to be placed in alternative provision than their peers, while Roma, Romani and Irish Traveller children are four times more likely.

The poorest students – those who get free school meals – are nearly five times more likely to be permanently excluded and four times more likely to be suspended than their peers.

There are overwhelmingly poor outcomes for excluded children, with over half of children not entered for maths and English GCSEs in alternative provision schools and fewer than 5 per cent gaining a standard pass.

This is the first article in a series dedicated to the forthcoming second edition of the Adolescent Safeguarding in London (ASIL) handbook.  In this first piece, Colin Michel and Luke Billingham put forward a framework for relational practice in adolescent safeguarding systems. To download as a pdf, click here.

In recent years, the United Kingdom has seen a surge of hate crime offenses, particularly in England and Wales, where police forces reported 145,212 hate crime incidents in 2022/23, an increase of almost 103,000 when compared with 2012/13.

For those that missed this, Simon Reeve’s Return to Cornwall highlights a range of challenges experienced by rural communities such as housing, but also highlights how companies can employ young people with disabilities – a great watch.  

The Good Childhood Report 2024 is The Children’s Society’s 13th annual report on the wellbeing of children and young people in the UK. It explores what children and young people are telling us about how their lives are going. One in 10 children aged 10 to 17 report having low wellbeing with the cost-of-living crisis weighing most heavily on their minds.

Digitally Excluded Children at Greater Risk of Fake News, Researchers Warn.  A lack of digital skills is leaving children “more open to the risks of disinformation, fake news and other online harms”, according to a report by former children’s commissioner Anne Longfield’s think-tank the Centre for Young Lives and eight universities in the North of England.  Longfield says recent racist and Islamophobic rioting “have shown the consequences of disinformation and its impact on the real world”. This violence was sparked by fake news around the identity of a teenage boy charged with the murder of three girls, who were stabbed to death in Southport last month.

his research set out to take a snapshot of what JNC practitioners in youth and community work defined as ‘Professional Maturity’ and to explore if this notion impacted on practice. To achieve this, the researchers worked with the Institute for youth work, to garner responses from practitioners in the youth work sector via an online questionnaire and an online semi-structured interview. In the inductive phenomenological approach taken to data analysis, some surprising patterns emerged that will require further exploration. The result of these findings has generated an ‘in the moment’ snapshot of ‘Professional Maturity’ for youth work in the shape of a model for practice that will still require critical examination. The data generated and the subsequent analysis highlights six themes: Qualification, Professional Transference, Attributes, Values, Beyond Self, and Chameleon. The key finding of this research has shown that Professional Maturity is an ever-evolving aspect of a youth workers journey rather than a final destination. However, research respondents did appear to have different expectations on what Professional Maturity should look like and how it affects individuals practice across the field.

Analysis of 71,000 records from a large NHS trust found that children on child protection plans were two-times more likely to have their referral for support rejected by CAMHS, while children with social care involvement were more than three times more likely to be rejected.  In addition, children from the most deprived areas were around two times more likely to be rejected than those from the least deprived areas. Researchers say further analysis indicates that this may be because these children’s circumstances are considered too “unstable” for mental health support. However, children in care were less likely to be rejected by CAMHS, with this thought to be because the trust studied has dedicated mental health services for looked-after children.

Children’s rights and justice charities have called for the urgent closure of all youth custody settings because a review of evidence shows they cannot be made safe or suitable for children.  The review, undertaken by four youth justice experts, examines 10 areas of policy and practice in relation to child imprisonment, including recurring government assurances that: children will be kept safe; solitary confinement will not be used for children; children will receive at least 30 hours of education a week; and restraint will only be used as a last resort.  The review concluded that “despite the best efforts of the many individuals and organisations involved, the evidence unequivocally shows that the multitudinous attempts to reform child imprisonment have ultimately failed and continue to fail”.

Juvenis, a grassroots organisation in Lambeth whose vision is a future where all young Londoners have more than one chance to fulfil their potential. This research is the first known study focusing on the qualitative accounts of trauma responses from Young Black Men (YBM)  in London exposed to gang affiliated violence, and their sensemaking within these experiences. This research offers a detailed, nuanced account of YBM’s experiences of trauma related to gang affiliated violence. 8 YBM in London between the ages of 19- 32 were interviewed in order to gather the stories of their lived experiences of gang affiliated violence and trauma.

In response to Pathway Fund’s survey of 1,000 Black and ethnic minoritised-led organisations, 76% reported having funding rejected because of their race or ethnicity. Moreover, 55% of respondents said they would not trust and approach social investors

Pathway Fund is set to open a £1m programme, funded by the government’s dormant assets scheme, to support 31 Black and ethnic minoritised-led charities and social enterprises in England through the cost-of-living crisis.

Dilys Winterkorn, project director at Pathway Fund, said: “Existing economic disparities are being intensified by the rising cost of living; this threatens the sustainability of many Black and ethnic minoritised-led organisations – like those supported by this programme – and consequently, adversely affects Black and ethnic minoritised-led institutions, too.”

A partnership in North West London has seen a 40% reduction on pre-pandemic admissions to acute mental health wards for children and young people.

The North West London CAMHS Provider Collaborative, in partnership with Real World Health, has resulted in children and young people being less likely to be admitted to a mental health ward. Most are now cared for outside of hospital, with only 5% of children presenting to CAMHS in crisis going on to be admitted to Tier 4 inpatient care.

Mental health issues among children and adolescents have been a growing concern, with many young people facing prolonged inpatient stays and limited access to appropriate community-based care.

Richard Lyle, head of commissioning and contracting West London NHS Trust/the NWL CAMHS Provider Collaborative, said the approach had consolidated previously ‘scattered data’ and helped provide evidence for where resources would have the biggest impact.  ‘We’ve become better informed about what works, enabling us to have more meaningful discussions with our commissioning ICB and local authority partners.

Child mortality and looked-after children rates could be slashed by around a third over the next decade if measures are put in place by the government to tackle child poverty, according to academics. The University of Glasgow study, has mapped the potential impact of child poverty reduction measures on social and health inequality in England from this year until 2033.

The study found that infant mortality numbers could be reduced by 293 compared to 2023’s level and the number of children being taken into care cut by 4,696. In addition, 32,650 emergency admissions to hospital could be prevented and the number of children attending hospital with iron deficiency could fall by 458.

The report points out that child poverty is “a key determinant of population health and health inequalities” and that government policy “exerts a major influence over rates of child poverty” such as through social spending. Since the 2008 global financial crash, European countries with higher social spending have had lower rates of child poverty, says the research.

The aim of the research was to capture the voice of young people and use their unique perspective to influence a design template for Employment & Skills-related activity in Youth Hubs across West Yorkshire.

Around 70 young people were interviewed across West Yorkshire and the report looked at a number of areas including:

• Why do young people in West Yorkshire typically engage with Youth Hubs?
• What may be limiting engagement in Youth Hubs?
• What common barriers to work are Youth Hub participants encountering?
• What are the opportunities for Youth Hubs in West Yorkshire in terms of increasing engagement and removing barriers to work?

In partnership with the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition and Save the Children UK, this report explores the impact of poverty and benefit conditionality on families’ mental health. Based on research with parents and children, and a review of the evidence, the report finds that children are being failed by the state’s inability to combat the dual crises of poverty and mental health

Trends in violence affecting children in England and Wales over the last 10 years.

In this report, they aim to simplify the complexity surrounding violence affecting children and young people in England and Wales. Their goal is to provide a clear account of whether the situation is improving or worsening, and to evaluate the performance of key sectors supporting these children and young people. To achieve this, they’ve selected 11 core indicators (see dashboard below) to track over time. These include:

• three primary measures of violence,
• a measure of racial disproportionality in the youth justice system,
• six measures related to our sectors of interest, and a measure of child poverty.
• Additionally, we’ve examined a range of other data to provide context and delve into the details behind the main figures.

KidsRights has published its annual data on how children’s rights are respected worldwide and to what extent countries are committed to improving the rights of children. The data indicates improvement in the UK’s performance regarding children’s rights but highlights concerns including: racism, bullying and discrimination against minority and LGBTQ+ children; disparities in the criminal justice system; and child poverty. Recommendations include: measures to address discrimination and overrepresentation in the criminal justice system; and implementing child rights impact assessments.

The Department for Education (DfE) has a strategic priority to improve the attainment of disadvantaged children. It has introduced a range of interventions, alongside its funding to support all children, specifically to improve the attainment of disadvantaged children.

This report examines whether DfE is achieving value for money through its funding to support the attainment of disadvantaged children in educational settings in England, from early years to the end of key stage 4 (the end of compulsory schooling).

It assesses:

• whether DfE has a coherent approach to support the attainment of disadvantaged children, and its progress against its objectives
• how DfE understands the attainment of children and how it evaluates what works to effectively allocate resources
• the accountability arrangements and support DfE provides schools and early years providers to ensure value for money

​​How are charities coping with a rise in children and young people seeking mental health support? ​ 

Young people’s mental health is facing an unprecedented storm of pressures and crises, with charities often providing vital shelter. With demand for NHS mental health services at record highs and waiting times for NHS treatment varying significantly across the UK, children and young people are increasingly being left at the mercy of the postcode lottery. For those left behind, charities provide a vital lifeline. 

How are charities responding to the rising mental health needs of children and young people? And how can funders better support the charity sector as it grapples with unprecedented demand? 

Six key areas where funders have the potential to create long-term positive change for children and young people:

1. Preventative work and early intervention.
2. Supporting children from minoritised groups.
3. Building and diversifying the mental health workforce.
4. Funding research on what works.
5. Enabling collaboration across the mental health sector.
6. Exploring a systems-based approach to funding.

We develop our identities, including our racial and ethnic identities, as we take in cultural messages during our adolescent and young adult years. While some research shows that young people may change their racial and ethnic identity over time, this demographic characteristic is often treated as static and typically captured only once in longitudinal data. The percentage who re-identify may be more pronounced (or otherwise experienced differently) among young people who are currently (or were formerly) in foster care

The McPin Foundation has worked with young people with lived experience of mental health issues to highlight priorities for improving children and young people’s mental health. The ten asks of the next government include: improving training for primary, emergency and mental health care providers; a commitment to provide personalised care for young people at risk of self-harm and suicide; and raising awareness around anxiety

The findings highlight the consuming concerns of young adults, around body image, loneliness and sense of self – all amplified by the pervasive presence of social media in almost every aspect of their daily life.   As well as this, one in four (25 per cent) 18–24-year-olds are unsatisfied with the way they look. A correlation between body image concerns and excessive time on social media is clearly demonstrated. Indeed, 70 per cent of people with poor mental health say they want stricter regulations on social media beauty filters.

Together with the NYA’s Higher Education Institution (HEI) Annual Monitoring Report and National Youth Sector Census, the newly published Workforce Survey offers a clearer picture than ever before of the youth sector and individuals involved in youth work delivery. Key findings of the NYA’s Workforce Survey:

• Over half (59%) of respondents have worked in the sector for ten or more years
• Only 6% had worked in the sector for less than a year
• Only slightly over a third (37%) are professional youth workers (have a Level 6 / degree level qualification)
• The East of England has the lowest proportion of Level 6 qualified youth workers (18%)
• The North East has the highest proportion of respondents with a Level 6 qualification (53%) followed by North West (53%) and Yorkshire and the Humber, West Midlands and South West (each 41% respectively)

The NYA’s research aims to provide the evidence needed to galvanise key decision-makers, including policy-makers, funders and training partners to work together to rebuild the youth work sector, which has seen a loss of 70% of council-funded provision due to over a decade of austerity cuts.

This volume presents the financial literacy results of the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2022 and examines 15-year-old students’ understanding of money matters in 20 countries and economies. It explores the links between their financial literacy and their competencies in mathematics and reading, and differences across socio-demographic groups. It also offers an overview of their experiences with money, their financial behaviour and attitudes, and their exposure to financial literacy at home and in school.

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Children in care being placed far from home due to a lack of local placements is hindering the support youth justice services (YJS) can offer, according to the probation inspectorate. The trend is also increasing the “safeguarding risks such as missing episodes and exploitation”, says HM Inspectorate of Probation in a report into the supervision of care-experienced children within the youth justice system.

This year’s Youth Culture Uncovered looked at things through the world of news. The Reuters Digital News Report in 2023 highlighted the rise in young people avoiding news, alongside a lower sense of value placed in public service broadcasting relative to older cohorts. Key takeaways:

• The news as a product is broken – not young people. Young people are not ‘not interested’ in the news per se, but they have to work hard to navigate news in a world of information overload. The news needs to reinvent itself to be relevant to young people – considering factors such as topic relevance, format type (embracing cues of infotainment), and a storytelling approach that delivers solutions and clear call to actions.
• Young people may not trust the media as an ‘establishment’, but they do trust independent voices of reliable news – individual journalists and content creators who they share an affinity with and a shared sense of lived experiences. Being a legacy news brand with a strong reputation isn’t enough.
• The best news storytelling comes firstly from a place of listening and knowing what people care about, and then presenting a point of view in language that is easy to understand and in formats that are information dense yet entertaining, inviting further conversation.

More than a quarter of young people are worried they or someone they know will become homeless in the next 12 months, according to new research.

A UK-wide poll was carried out by Opinium on behalf of Places for People (PfP) and surveyed 550 young people aged 16 to 24.

People in this age group were the least likely to oppose new affordable housebuilding in their area, at just one in 10.

They were also the likeliest to associate social housing with positive words such as ‘togetherness’ and ‘unity’.

By comparison, those aged 55 and over were most likely to connect it to words like ‘unemployment’ and ‘anti-social behaviour’.

They are ‘Austerity’s Children’, born in 2010. A modern-day equivalent of ‘Thatcher’s Children’ – born into cuts, cost-of-living crisis, Covid and Brexit, and the tearing of the social safety net.

After months of chatting to 13 and 14 year-olds across the country for a special Daily Mirror project it’s clear these young people have been starkly affected by the last 14 years of Conservative government. But what if today’s Year 9s had the keys to No 10?

When we asked them to finish the sentence ‘If I were in Number 10…’, they said they would cut NHS waiting lists, reopen youth clubs, prioritise the climate, give teenagers free public transport, pay people in the public sector fairly, guarantee free sport, introduce Votes at 16, get justice for the Covid Bereaved families and sort out the housing crisis.

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust have today (5^th June) published the first-ever State of Yorkshire’s Nature report, which for the first time gives an accurate insight into how the whole of Yorkshire’s nature is faring – and, crucially, where action is now needed to create healthier, resilient and more abundant landscapes.

Yorkshire is not immune to the UK-wide nature crisis, where 1 in 6 of our species are now assessed as being at risk. Today’s report concludes that the declines here are similar to those that are happening across the UK, but for the first time identifies which species in Yorkshire are declines and which are increasing, where and – crucially – why.

A steady decline in children’s health over the past two decades in the UK means they are now shorter and more likely to have obesity and type 2 diabetes.  A report from the Food Foundation found the height of five-year olds has been falling since 2013, with UK children now shorter than those in nearly all other high-income countries.

A critical three-year period between the ages of 11 and 14 has been identified as the point at which talented children from low-income backgrounds fall behind their wealthier peers at school, according to new research.

NPC have launched new research showing the impact of climate & nature loss on people in poverty and experiencing health inequalities

Children’s services leaders have questioned Home Office plans for the police to make a referral to children’s social care every time they perform an intimate search of a child.

The proposal, included in updated draft guidance to the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) codes of practice, has been introduced in response to failings in the case of Child Q in 2020.

The 15-year-old black girl was strip-searched at her London school by police officers while on her period after being wrongly accused of possessing cannabis.

“Unless the child is already known to the local authority, the referral may not meet the threshold for a social work intervention, so the purpose of a referral is unclear and may risk adding to a child and family’s distress,” its consultation response states.

Lloyds Bank Foundation has published an intriguing report highlighting their findings from a decade of delivering skilled volunteering programmes.

Three weeks ahead of the general election, UK charities reveal that 70% of young people under 18 years old don’t know the name of their MP.   59% are unable to name which party their local MP belongs to and 79% are unaware of which issues matter most to their elected representative.

Young people’s mental health is facing an unprecedented storm of pressures and crises, with charities often providing vital shelter. With demand for NHS mental health services at record highs and waiting times for NHS treatment varying significantly across the UK, children and young people are increasingly being left at the mercy of the postcode lottery. For those left behind, charities provide a vital lifeline. 

How are charities responding to the rising mental health needs of children and young people? And how can funders better support the charity sector as it grapples with unprecedented demand? 

Their paper aims to chart the current landscape by exploring these questions and providing some answers.   

General election 2024: Key party manifesto pledges for the children and young people’s sector

The three main parties have published policy pledges in a bid to win the general election on 4 July.

From a Conservative promise to implement at national service programme for 18-year-olds to the Labour Party and Liberal Democrats promising mental health practitioners in every school, services for young people have factored heavily in campaigns so far.

CYP Now examines policies put forward across six key topics, how they could impact practice and the reaction to key proposals from the sector: Education, Early Years, Health, Social Care, Youth Justice, and Youth Work.

According to new research from three major mental health organisations – Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition, Mind and YoungMinds Young people don’t think politicians care about their mental health. Voters think politicians have not done enough to tackle this issue.

Less than half of young people (43%) say the main political parties running for the next election care about their mental health1. And nearly three in five adults (59%) say that politicians have not done enough on this issue over the last decade and less than a quarter of voters (23%) think it will be prioritised in this election.

The charities say the findings should serve as a wake-up call for politicians on the need for mental health to be a priority this election and for the next government. They add that there are very clear solutions that should be taken forward.

Number of EHC plans at January 2024 – 575,963

The number of EHC plans in place as at January 2024 increased by 58,914 (11.4%) from January 2023.

This publication provides data on children and young people with an education, health and care (EHC) plan in England and, historically, for those with a statement of special educational needs (SEN).

This report charts the disconcerting deterioration in children’s health and wellbeing we’ve seen in the 21st century as a result and the measures we’re challenging all political parties to commit to in order to ensure all children can grow up healthy and well nourished.

19,000 young adult carers could be missing out on vital support during studies because of Carer’s Allowance rule.  The so-called “21-hour rule” prevents people from claiming Carer’s Allowance if they study for 21 hours or more a week, even when they meet all the benefit’s other criteria

Abuse hotline, Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), sees most extreme year on record and calls for immediate action to protect very young children online.

The first-of-its kind new analysis shows three to six year old children being manipulated into sexual activities.

wider results – 92,665 reports were assessed by IWF (5% increase from 2022):

• • 392,620 were reports of webpages, and
  • 45 were reports of newsgroups.

275,652 URLs (webpages) were confirmed as containing child sexual abuse imagery, having links to the imagery or advertising it (8% increase from 2022).

In an article from the Public Sector Executive (PSE) talks about a report published by the Institute for Government that looks into how the funding of all local and combined authorities can be improved, whilst warning why the current method doesn’t work.

The report, titled Funding Local Growth in England, has claimed that local growth is being held up by the government’s ‘over-reliance’ on competitive bidding over local and combined authority funding. This has been explored in three different features of the funding landscape, which the IfG claims is undermining the government’s attempts to fund levelling up and other priorities.

These three features include the fact that there is a wide range of different funding methods available to authorities, but these have tight ringfences inhibiting how the money can be spent, as well as the fact that funding is often only for the short-term. The report has found that almost half of the grants that were issued in 2022/23 were due to expire after a year, with this making it harder to achieve stability or long-term planning.

If you want to keep your child connected while avoiding some online content or apps, a feature phone (or ‘dumb phone’) could be the answer.

Mobile phones can be an important and exciting piece of tech for kids to receive while growing up, but which type of phone to choose can be an equally challenging decision for any parent or carer.

Amid calls to address smartphone access and usage among under 16s, Vodafone has updated its ‘best phones for kids  hub to better highlight an alternative choice.

What are feature phones?

Basic feature phones are non-smartphones that often don’t have the ability to download apps, providing only the most essential functions, such as texting or calling. Some don’t even have web browsers.

Durable, affordable and easy to use, they can be a great alternative to smartphones for kids and teenagers.

The National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF), the largest community funder in the UK, has published its new Corporate Plan covering the next three years (2024 -2027). The plan sets out ‘ambitious targets’ to deliver on its strategy to support what matters most to communities across the UK.

The NLCF aims to distribute at least a further £4 billion by 2030 to support activities that create resilient communities that are more inclusive and environmentally sustainable – activities that will strengthen society and improve lives across the UK.

Key points include:

• More than 50% of all grants will go to communities experiencing greatest poverty and disadvantage.
• At least 15% of funding will go to projects that have environmental sustainability as their primary aim.
• The largest expansion of grassroots funding in three decades, with a target of reaching more than 80% of areas across the UK.
  • The National Lottery Awards for All small grants programme will include piloting a £50,000 grant award.
• The primary focus of more than 90% of grants is on one of four community-led missions:
  • Supporting communities to come together.
  • Be environmentally sustainable.
  • Help children and young people thrive.
  • Enable people to lead healthier lives.
• New funding portfolios will be launched in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, complemented by a UK-wide portfolio in 2024.

CIPD research shows UK employer investment in training continues to decline and overall apprenticeship numbers have dropped, especially for young people who most benefit from and need apprenticeships. This report calls for a reform of the existing Apprenticeship Levy to enhance employer investment in skills and boost opportunities for young people to secure apprenticeships that lead to quality employment.

New SFM research reveals schools are taking drastic measures to support increasing numbers of hungry children.  Current government policies and low-income thresholds exclude one million children living in food-insecure households from vital free school meals.

This review is focused on developing understandings around youth participatory
research and evaluation methods. This was achieved through a review that aimed to identify
and consolidate the existing literature across both academic and practice contexts. The
review responds to the following research questions:
• What can be learnt from previous research, and emerging practice, about how to
effectively design and implement youth participation approaches?
• What conditions, practices, skills or processes do research organisations develop or
embed to enable meaningful, impactful, ethical youth participation in research?

The report explores how the charity sector has fared over the last year and the challenges they face in 2024, from fundraising to recruitment.

The Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition and Centre for Mental Health have published a report on school absence. The report reviews Government data and examines the evidence base which finds a link between increases in school absence and the rise of mental health difficulties. The report discusses groups of children facing barriers to attendance such as care experienced children, children experiencing bullying, and children living in poverty. Recommendations call for the Department for Education to introduce a mental health and wellbeing absence code.

The report published by Child of the North and Anne Longfield’s Centre for Young Lives think tank, “Building the foundations of a new ‘Sure Start’: An evidence-based plan for connecting and coordinating support and services in and around education settings”, sets out the case for a new updated model of Sure Start that puts schools and nurseries at its heart. It proposes a national network of ‘hubs’ in educational settings that can provide services.

Children who are physically inactive may have high cholesterol in early adulthood and subsequent heart health issues in their mid-forties, according to new research published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

Age has long been a strong predictor of British voting behaviour: younger people identify more with the parties on the left, and older people with the parties on the right. This gap in preferences was relatively small and stable over the last few decades, but it has become remarkably wide since 2015, and was also well-evidenced at the EU referendum.

The briefing paper from the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel is part of an ongoing series of publications to share information arising from work undertaken by the panel

It warns that “children educated at home may not have access to people working in universal services that can act to protect and help them.”

The Youth Endowment Fund has published findings from research into children and young people’s experiences and opinions on youth violence in England and Wales. Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) was used to analyse qualitative research undertaken with 4,600 young people aged 16-25. Findings included: social media is generally viewed as contributing to escalating real-life violence; a lack of positive influence from adults can lead to involvement in violence; and the belief that positive activities help deter youth violence.

This research is about the lived experiences of Black/Global Majority Disabled pupils, aged 11-16 and their parents about schooling. It explores experiences of mainstream school placement, participation, support, and attitudes of school staff. The research found that there is inadequate support for Black/Global Majority Disabled pupils and their families in terms of advocacy, peer support to share information and provide clarity on entitlement, help to empower them and protect children’s right to mainstream education.

Children Should Stay at School Until 18 to Mitigate Covid Learning Loss, Think-Tank Suggests  A global think-tank has suggested that compulsory education should be extended to 18 to make up for lost learning during Covid lockdowns. A report by the OECD finds that the pandemic “posed significant challenges to education systems and students worldwide”, and that in the wake of the pandemic and various lockdowns there was “a pressing need to assess the effectiveness” of measures put in place to address these challenges.   The report also praises England’s use of “attendance advisers” in schools and local authorities and a national communications campaign aimed at reducing the numbers of children taking “preventable” days of absence.

How partnerships between the education and youth sectors can improve the accessibility, quality and impact of enrichment activities.

Enrichment activities include sports, arts clubs, volunteering, social action and adventures away from home. Evidence shows that  enrichment can improve young people’s essential skills, health and participation in education. However, evidence also shows wide disparities in access to enrichment. While schools and youth organisations work hard to provide enrichment to young people, they often
face challenges in working together to achieve the same goal.    This report was commissioned by the National Citizen Service Trust (NCS Trust) and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) to understand how formal education and youth sector organisations can partner, collaborate and coordinate to improve young people’s access to high-quality enrichment opportunities.

Educational damage from the COVID-19 pandemic will have an impact on school pupils well into the 2030s, according to a study – A generation at risk Rebalancing education in the post-pandemic era involving the University of Strathclyde.

This paper from York St John University,  reports on a research project exploring the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on secondary school children’s mental health and wellbeing in York England

The Diana Awards are conducting this research to understand young people’s perspectives of the current landscape, identify barriers to political engagement, and create a picture of best practice.

The first stage of our research is a survey for 13–25-year-olds based in the UK.  https://form.jotform.com/thedianaaward/youthinsightsurvey

You can also access our toolkit here:  Youth Insights Survey_Toolkit.pdf

The new World Happiness Report based on surveys in 140 countries indicates young people are getting happier around the world but steadily less happy in North America and Europe. The UK ranks 32^nd out of the 140 countries for happiness among the under 30s, but 20^th among the over 60s.  also read  LSE Politics & Policy – Why Are Younger People Becoming Unhappier? Blog by Ben O’Loughlin and James Sloam

Mental health experts have criticised a lack of action by the government to tackle underlying issues behind persistent school absences such as poor emotional wellbeing and poverty

While many young people have grown up in a digital world, navigating information online can be tricky. Algorithms and search engine optimisation are designed to maximise profits, rather than with young people in mind.  There are a variety of services and resources aimed at young people experiencing problems, however, these are of no benefit if they can’t find them. This can lead to frustrating experiences for young people when they need support.  NPC, are imaging a world where digital infrastructure is open and well-funded, where different collaborators come together towards the common goal of providing young people with relevant information when they need it.  To read more on their work check out their blog.

Decarbonisation and net zero:

How the NHS can unlock its long-term sustainable future.

The NHE E.ON report on how the NHS is paving the way to becoming the world’s first net zero health service by 2040.

Learn about groundbreaking initiatives such as the first net zero surgery, sustainable tech adoption, and partnerships with energy experts like E.ON. This guide showcases the NHS’s efforts in tackling climate change, enhancing healthcare, and overcoming economic hurdles through innovation and strategic energy management.

Two weeks before the 2 May election, the incumbent mayor described his vision of a “Fairer, safer, greener London,” with a dizzying array of policies.

A large part of his stall concerns young Londoners. He promised to continue funding free lunchtime meals for state primary school children, and also announced ‘baby banks’, which would supply free food, nappies and other essentials to those who need them.

The Yorkshire and Humber Climate Action Plan was developed by the Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission with the help of more than 500 people from across the region.

The Action Plan calls for meaningful climate leadership from larger institutions in government and the public and private sectors to deliver “significant, tangible contributions” to help tackle the climate and ecological emergency.

Fostering shared responsibility, moving from targets and planning to action, and putting climate and nature at the heart of all areas of decision making are three of the key recommendations from the Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission, which also commits to undertake a raft of ambitious actions itself.

Gemma Lockyer Turnbull highlights the inconsistencies found in determining the age range when we describe work with young people and argues the need for more distinction between work with children and young people.

in this issue of the World Happiness Report we focus on the happiness of people at different stages of life.

The position of the young is discussed in finer detail in Chapter 3. This draws on a wide range of data sources and also includes data for young people aged 10-15.

In many but not all regions, the young are happier than the old.

To find out what else the report had to say click ‘read the report here’ button

This article reviews the impacts of the UK Conservative Party’s government policies on ‘open access youth work’ since 2010, giving particular attention to the period since 2018 and to impacts in England. After clarifying the practice’s distinctive features, it outlines the ‘austerity’ demolition of its local provision and—amid continuing wider financial pressures—changes in the role and contributions of the voluntary youth sector.

A landmark healthcare review has called on the NHS to ensure gender identity services for young people match the standards of its other forms of care and support.   “It is absolutely right that children and young people, who may be dealing with a complex range of issues around their gender identity, get the best possible support and expertise throughout their care.” — Dr Hilary Cass

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and the Department for Education (DfE) have published an annual report on the work of the Supporting Families programme in England from 2023 to 2024.  From April 2024, the programme is moving from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to the DfE. The report includes the latest performance figures, research findings and policy developments for the Supporting Families programme

The Children’s Commissioner has published findings from The Big Ambition, a large-scale consultation of children and young people aged 6-18-years-old in England carried out between September 2023 and January 2024.

Findings include:

• Only 22% of children agreed that the people who run the country listen to what they have to say
• 93% of respondents agreed that they live with people who make them ‘feel loved and cared for.
• 75% of respondents agreed they feel safe online.

A review of youth work policy and practice over the current parliament has set out a series of recommendations for how to reform services under a new government to better meet young people’s emerging support needs. The rapid review by MPs Lloyd Russell-Moyle and Ben Bradley follows a call for evidence published with responses from frontline youth work organisations and practitioners informing the recommendations on priority areas for the next parliament.

MP’s review has 3 recommendations

1. Under the next government there should be a minister who has a portfolio focussed on young people.
2. With youth work seen as an essential service a national youth workforce strategy is needed.
3. There needs to be a standardised and national system for evaluating the sufficiency, suitability and quality of youth work.

Young homeless people feel dismissed and ignored when they approach local authorities for help, according to a new LSE report.  The report found there were several barriers experienced by young people when approaching a local authority for support and that having a charity advocate on their behalf was often crucial

In this article Gemma Lockyer Turnbull highlights the inconsistencies found in determining the age range when we describe work with young people and argues the need for more distinction between work with children and young people.  This article will explore what age means in the context of youth work in England and how this relates to the profession in 2024. It will pose questions about why the age range may have been lowered and the impact that reductions in children’s work and funding, along with access to youth work qualifications, may have had on this. It will provide my own reflections, as a manager working in the sector, about what this change could mean for practice, and the funding and profile of youth work.

Make your Mark 2024 Draft Results – over half a million young people shared what was important to them.   Please note these are draft, keep a note of any inaccuracies, for the final version.

Health and wellbeing

Crime and safety

Culture media sport

congratulations to Barnsley for being one of the highest turn outs. BYC MYM Results 2024 v1

FAO’s insightful new report, “The unjust climate: Measuring the impacts of climate change on rural poor, women, and youth,” lays bare how climate change disparately affects people, with a special focus on those in rural areas. Urgent action is needed to address vulnerabilities & support adaptation strategies for those in need. The report is based on over 109,000 households in 24 countries from 5 regions of the world, and it draws on 70 years of rainfall and temperature data.

New review finds criminally exploited children being harmed by failing system.  The review heard there is currently no agreed legal definition of the criminal exploitation of children, which is a complex type of child abuse where a young person is manipulated or pressured to take part in criminal activity. 

Youth workers are stepping in to cover for a lack of help from parents and families to prevent children in London from being involved in violent crime, a report has found.

People under the age of 30 are experiencing the equivalent of a mid-life crisis in some parts of the world, a new report has found.

Average happiness of young people is on the decline across the West.  Lithuania took the top spot for young people, with its under-30 population rating their happiness an average of 7.6 out of 10. Israel and Serbia followed in second and third. The shift has driven the US out of the top 20 happiest countries overall for the first time since reporting began. The UK placed 32nd for young people and the US at number 62.

also see World Happiness Report: Young people in the West becoming unhappier – BBC News

In 2024, the combined impact of the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis has exposed and worsened inequalities in our society. Families are struggling to make ends meet, children are going to school hungry and coming back to a cold home. Meanwhile, years of underfunding have left vital services increasingly unable to cope with rising levels of need for support.
In this report, Barnardos highlight some of the biggest challenges facing children and young people today and explain how we’re driving the change they need now and in the years to come

Bracknell Forest youth justice team (YJT) has received an overall rating of ‘good’ following an inspection by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation in November last year.

The YJT was rated ‘good’ across three broad areas – the arrangements for organisational delivery of the service, the quality of work done with children sentenced by the courts, and the quality of out-of-court disposal work.

New figures sourced from NHS England using the Children’s Commissioner’s legislative powers reveal that in 2022/23, 949,200 children and young people were referred to child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) – equal to 8% of the 11.9 million children in England.

The De Souza’s Children’s Mental Health Services 2022-23 report found that 32% of children and young people referred to mental health services received support but 28% – close to 270,300 – were still waiting for support from mental health services.

A further 39% of those waiting for help had their referral closed before accessing support.

The report shows that waiting times for mental health support continue to vary significantly.

For the 305,000 children and young people who accessed support the average waiting time was 35 days, however, in the last year nearly 40,000 children experienced a wait of over two years.

In The Glass Cliff, Sophie Williams explores how structural inequality in the workplace disguises itself as the personal failures of women, and how we can change the world of work for the better. Here, she discusses the reversal of women’s rights in recent years and what we can do about it

Young Londoners on Low Incomes Spend 77 Per Cent Of Earnings on Housing, Report Finds  Londoners in their late 20s on low incomes are now spending 77 per cent of their income on housing costs, a new report has found. The City Hall investigation found that in other parts of the country, people aged 25-29 and on below-average incomes spend less than half that amount, at 33 per cent of their income.   The report found that while 40 per cent of people across England aged 16-39 are homeowners, the figure in London was just 30 per cent. According to City Hall data, the average London house price in June 2023 was £528,000, with the average deposit being £143,000.   The report concluded that “young Londoners face an almost impossible situation of high rents and house prices that are out of kilter with incomes”. It pointed out that the median annual income for Londoners aged 22-29 in 2023 was £33,343, while those aged 30-39 had a median income of £43,193.

Almost a quarter of a million children are waiting for mental health support despite being referred to services in 2022/23, analysis of NHS figures by the Children’s Commissioner for England finds.  New figures sourced from NHS England using the Children’s Commissioner’s legislative powers reveal that in 2022/23, 949,200 children and young people were referred to child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) – equal to 8% of the 11.9 million children in England.  The report found that 32% of children and young people referred to mental health services received support but 28% – close to 270,300 – were still waiting for support from mental health services. A further 39% of those waiting for help had their referral closed before accessing support.

Pupils with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) are among the most likely to be suspended by schools multiple times, researchers have found.  Those suspended 10 times or more are almost three times as likely to be pupils with SEND compared to pupils who are suspended once. Pupils with social, emotional or mental health special needs are the most common group among suspended pupils.  The report also found that suspended pupils are around a year behind their peers by the time they take their GCSE’s and pupils with multiple suspensions are likely to be in an mainstream school.

Corporate parenting duties on councils should be extended across a raft of other public sector organisations, including the NHS and government departments, according to a cross-party group of MPs and peers.

The Youth Select Committee have launched their report investigating the cost of living’s impact on young people’s health and wellbeing.

key findings and recommendations include:

• Many young people feel excluded from the policy-making processes that directly have an impact on their lives
• The high cost of living is negatively affecting young people’s ability to secure stable jobs, with lower wages preventing young people from applying to certain roles.
• The current eligibility criteria for free school meals does not capture all of those in need, instead resulting in a “postcode lottery”.
• British Youth Council | Youth Select Committee (byc.org.uk)

Barnardo’s commissioned a YouGov poll of 1,001 children aged 14-17 across Great Britain. They were asked to imagine themselves aged 30 and answer a set of questions about what their lives would be like at that age. Key Findings show:

• 55% of children responding believe that their generation will not be as well off as their parents.
• 34% think their own children will be even worse off than they are.

61% don’t think they’ll own their own house – 24% think they’ll still be at home with their parents and 10% in shared accommodation.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport commissioned an independent provider to conduct the youth provision and life outcomes research. They conducted three research projects to address specific evidence gaps:

A study of longitudinal research. The report explores the effects of weekly participation in youth clubs on outcomes later in life. Including education, employment, mental health and life satisfaction.

A study of international evidence. This report is a systematic review and identifies and critically assesses the available international evidence on the impact of youth services.

A study of the local impact of youth clubs. This report explores the effects of reducing youth provision funding on community outcomes in local areas.

The authors conclude:

There is a clear association between participation in youth provision and positive short-term outcomes relating to physical health and wellbeing, pro-social behaviours and education. There is also strong evidence that these short-term outcomes are sustained over decades and, compared with non-participants, people who attended youth clubs continue to score more highly for several of these indicators of wellbeing.

comment: These are really important findings, but sadly set against a backdrop of stark cuts in services since 2010 which have been exacerbated as a result of the pandemic. Hopefully despite the huge funding challenges for LAs, this report will help make an ‘invest to save’ case for increasing youth work provision again.

Children’s Services Spending ‘Biggest Short-Term Pressure for Councils’, Say Leaders Spending on children’s services, including support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), is the biggest short-term pressure facing local authorities struggling to balance their budgets, according to two-thirds of councils. The findings have emerged in the Local Government Information Unit’s latest report on the state of local government finance in England.

Action to improve young people’s mental health, education and employment  The transition to adulthood is a tumultuous time: leaving education, entering the labour market, living independent of family and managing one’s finances all come with their stresses and strains. But this crucial part of the life course can be especially challenging for young people with mental health problems who are more likely to struggle in the adult world than their healthier peers.  Key finding Over one-in-three (34 per cent) of young people aged 18-24 reported symptoms that indicated they were experiencing a common mental health disorder (CMD) like depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder – a big increase since 2000 when less one-in-four (24 per cent) reported these problems. As a result, more than half a million 18-24-year-olds were prescribed anti-depressants in 2021-22.

has published their latest annual report – The Road Ahead 2024, which looks at major trends and issues for 2024 for the VCSE sector in order to ‘chart a path through the year’. Highlights from the report focus on the following areas:

• An election year brings uncertainty – but also opportunity
• Tough economic times set to continue
• Adapting to the big social, environmental and technology shifts

Technology, online spaces and digital communication are now so embedded in children’s daily activities that it is almost impossible to separate online interactions from other aspects of their social lives.

While not necessarily inappropriate, children’s involvement in sexual behaviour through technology is complex. Often children will create images of themselves consensually as part of a sexual relationship, but some – particularly girls – share images because of coercion, sexual extortion or trafficking. Understanding children’s exposure to and experiences of viewing pornography can improve understanding of their sexual behaviour.

Agenda Alliance has discovered that growing numbers of Black Caribbean girls were kicked out of school during 2021/22. Data obtained from the Department of Education via Freedom of Information requests has found that in the 2021/22 academic year, girls from a Black Caribbean background were excluded at double the rate of white British girls.

Analysis of the latest data across local authorities, policing, criminal justice and sexual assault referral centres collated to explore how child sexual abuse is being identified and responded to in England and Wales.

Latest report finds that children are the victims in 40% of all sexual offences – including rape and sexual assault – yet make up just 20% of the population in England & Wales.

In partnership with Unicef UK and the Equality and Human Rights Commission, CRAE has published three new briefings to help parliamentarians and civil society organisations hold government to account to ensure the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child’s (UN Committee) latest Concluding Observations on the UK are taken forward.

The Concluding Observations set out the UN Committee’s verdict on how well the UK is respecting children’s rights following its examination last year on the UK’s implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).  While the UN Committee noted some areas of progress since its 2016 report on the UK, it highlighted a wide range of issues that are detrimentally impacting on children and made nearly 200 recommendations for action.   It is crucial that these recommendations are now implemented.

Downloads of the briefings are available from the website (click read this report).

The Department for Education should produce guidance for schools on the implementation of good emotional health for children, a new report has urged.

A shift towards supporting children to understand emotional health from a young age could prevent NHS England spending £36.7bn on mental health services by 2040, finds the research by the Centre for Emotional Health and think tank Demos.

The new survey has revealed that 3 in 4 UK parents with children under five are anxious about their child’s emotional and mental wellbeing.

New research suggests that transgender people are 5x more likely to have a long-term mental health condition compared to cisgender people, and more likely to have their mental health needs unmet by their GP.

Latest NHS data, analysed by  YoungMinds, shows that the number of open referrals to Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services is the highest on record.

Improved partnerships between justice services and youth workers are needed to better support racially minoritised young people when they transition between children’s and adult services, according to a report.

Social prescribing: Moving pediatric care upstream to improve child health and wellbeing and address child health inequities.

The number of children entering the youth justice system has increased for the first time in 10 years, with more younger children becoming known to services

Study finds growth over past decade in share of cases involving multiple factors, including where children face risks inside and outside the home and domestic abuse is combined with other concern.  A lack of joined up working with children’s social care and education settings is contributing to inconsistencies in addressing the needs of babies, children and young people in local health plans, according to research.

The UK Trauma Council (UKTC), a project of Anna Freud, has produced a short animation to support children and young people affected by trauma after war and conflict. The UKTC has also produced toolkits for professionals working in the UK with children and young people who have sought refuge and asylum, often as a result of war and conflict

The Youth Index is an annual research report based on a YouGov survey of 2,239 16- to 25-year-olds across the UK, gauging young people’s confidence and happiness across a range of areas, from their physical and mental health to money and working life

Youth unemployment increased in 2023, after a period of improvement in 2022, according to data by the ONS and Trust for London

he typical understanding many people have of modern slavery involves foreign nationals exploited in prostitution or forced to work in inhumane conditions under threats and violence. Yet the most prevalent form of modern slavery in the UK reported by the Home Office over the past four years primarily involves the exploitation of British nationals, mostly teenagers and vulnerable adults, forced, coerced or groomed into committing crime for someone else’s benefit known as ‘criminal exploitation

The North West, North East, Yorkshire & Humber and the West Midlands have the highest percentage of children affected by the two-child limit across the UK. The data also reveals a strong correlation between the two-child limit and areas with high rates of child poverty.

Rochdale Council and police failed to protect children at risk of sexual exploitation in the Greater Manchester town more than a decade ago, an independent review has found

The Children’s Commissioner for England has published a report looking at children’s views on video gaming. Findings from a survey of 8- to 17-year-olds in England show around two thirds of children viewed video games as beneficial to children’s health and wellbeing

This publication looks at the data for the youth justice system in England and Wales for the year ending March 2023. Key findings: In the year to 31 March 2023, the number of children entering the justice system for the first time increased by one per cent on the previous year to 8,400 – the first increase since 2012.

New data released by the Children’s Charities Coalition highlights that children feel politicians don’t understand their lives and aren’t listening to them as the country prepares for a General Election

Third Of UK Teenagers Believe Climate Change Exaggerated, Report Shows The Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) has found that most climate denial videos on YouTube push the idea that climate solutions do not work, climate science and the climate movement are unreliable, or that the effects of global heating are beneficial or harmless.  The report also included the results of a nationally representative survey conducted by polling company Survation which found 31% of UK respondents aged 13 to 17 agreed with the statement “Climate change and its effects are being purposefully overexaggerated”. This rose to 37% of teenagers categorised as heavy users of social media, meaning they reported using any one platform for more than four hours a day.

More Evidence to Ban Energy Drinks for Children, Study Finds  The sale of all energy drinks to young people and children in the UK should be banned, says a review of the latest evidence on their effects on health. It highlighted links to more risks than previously found, such as anxiety, stress and suicidal thoughts.

Racism being experienced by children is impacting their emotional wellbeing and putting them at greater risk of mental health difficulties and behavioural problems, according to researchers the research found that “racism wore away at children’s wellbeing”

The Turing Scheme helped disadvantaged young people access learning opportunities abroad that would have been out of their reach, research has found, however problems with administering the government’s flagship post-Brexit overseas study and work initiative was a barrier to participation for some poorer students.

The Children's Commissioner discusses working with disabled children and young people to develop the report “We all have a voice”: Disabled children’s vision for change in her most recent blog series.

For the first time, a new report from the Vulnerability Knowledge and Practice Programme (VKPP) sets out publicly a clear, detailed picture of reported Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (CSAE) crimes across England and Wales.

Based on datasets collected from 42 police forces, this national snapshot gives insight and analysis into the scale and nature of CSAE, trends in offending, including crime types, where they were committed, and presents profiles of both victims and perpetrators

This report is a key milestone in the evaluation of Your Choice, a London-based programme to tackle violence affecting young people.

This Article 39 report looks at the views of young people who experienced mental health detention in childhood; it also captures their opinions on the changes proposed in the government’s Draft Mental Health Bill

Many children’s impairments and conditions are particularly disabling because their needs are not identified early enough, and the right support is not put in place. This can be detrimental to a child’s ability to lead a happy life, including being able to make friends and participate fully in school and their community. By prioritising early identification of children’s needs, and equipping parents and professionals – like teachers – with the skills and knowledge to support children with additional needs, we can reduce pressure on these pathways, and give every child what they need to thrive.

York and North Yorkshire Covid Recovery Insight Project - G5813-Food-Insecurity-Report-090523.pdf (skyblue.org.uk) forms part of a multi-strand insight project relating to ‘poverty’. It focuses on food access models and outcomes associated with them.

This survey asked over 2,000 girls and young women aged 7 to 21, both inside and outside of guiding, how they feel about the specific and emerging pressures facing them today, and what these mean for their happiness and opportunities.

A fifth of youth work providers have a waiting list of between three and six months, a recent census from the National Youth Agency (NYA) has found, with many struggling to meet demand amid financial pressures

Our report Generation Green Jobs? Exploring young people’s readiness for the Net Zero skills revolution suggests that young people’s lack of awareness of and interest in green jobs presents a serious risk to the UK meeting its ambitious Net Zero targets, which depend on training and retraining hundreds of thousands of workers.

This landmark report revisits key areas identified two decades ago as drivers of poverty, namely family breakdown, addiction, worklessness, serious personal debt, and educational failure. The analysis, conducted against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, sheds light on the exacerbated challenges faced by the most deprived communities

Stand up for Siblings has published a new report on care-experienced children and young people and the impact of having a sibling in prison or secure accommodation Findings indicated that a disproportionate number of care-experienced children and young people had a sibling held in prison or secure care.

Settled at Christmas’ research explores how many children and young people in care are moved over the Christmas period, as such instability is likely to compound the loneliness and isolation many already feel. Research found that in England between 18 December 2022 and 3 January 2023.

Racism being experienced by children is impacting their emotional wellbeing and putting them at greater risk of mental health difficulties and behavioural problems, according to researchers the research found that “racism wore away at children’s wellbeing”

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.

The research lays bare the devastating consequences of the cost-of-living crisis on young people's lives and opportunities outside of school.

report investigates what parents and carers are struggling with in relation to school refusal and anxiety – now the most common issue requested in Parent Talk support. 3 key issues Parents don't know where to turn, Parents struggle to access specialist support for their children, Learning from home can help and hinder school attendance Parents and carers need better support to help reduce school absences.

statistics show that the number of young people classed as ‘children in need’ because they have been assessed as needing support by social services are holding steady at around 400,000. The latest statistics, which show 403,090 children in need on March 31st 2023, equate to about one child in every class (1 in 29) being classified as a ‘child in need’.

An estimated 1.8m UK households containing nearly 3.8 million people, including 1 million children, were destitute at some point in 2022, according to the study, published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF). Poverty campaigners, teachers and frontline welfare workers have expressed growing alarm about the damaging effects of destitution, particularly on children, including physical ill health, undernourishment, mental illness, social isolation, school absences and poor classroom behaviour.

Two in three young Londoners support building on the green belt, according to a poll commissioned by developer Pocket Living. The research showed 66% of Londoners aged 25 to 45 years agree with the idea of development on the green belt if it leads to more affordable housing. More than a quarter (27%) strongly agree. Over three-quarters (78%) of those surveyed said they felt that the current government isn’t doing enough for affordable homes in London. The report also found that 67% of young people in London would vote for a candidate at the next election promoting more housing delivery regardless of their political stance.

New government data shows that the number of children in care being moved far away from their local area has gone up by 62% in the last decade

In the new report ‘The Missing Link – Social Prescribing for Children and Young People’ Barnardo’s outlines how social prescribing, with adequate funding, could make a real difference to the mental health of children and young people as part of a range of sustainable options to suit a person’s specific needs. It highlights the need for social prescribing services on a national scale to help children and young people with their mental health by nurturing self-confidence and developing a sense of belonging.

The largest independent providers of children’s social care brought in profits of more than £300 million last year, a new report commissioned by the Local Government Association revealed.

This report is a key milestone in the evaluation of Your Choice, a London-based programme to tackle violence affecting young people. The report recommended progression to a full-scale Efficacy trial, indicating that the design of the programme’s evaluation known as the London Young People Study (LYPS) works, and that sufficient promise of the Your Choice programme has been shown during the Pilot trial to warrant further funding. The Efficacy trial, which began in August 2023, will run until December 2024 and is expected to involve around 1500 young people.

This year’s The Children's Society Good Childhood Report reveals that too many young people are unhappy with their lives. 10% of the children aged 10 to 17 who completed our household survey in May and June 2023 had low wellbeing, and almost a third were unhappy with at least one specific area of their lives. This is unacceptable. The Government must act now to protect every childhood.

One quarter of young people now turn to social media for financial guidance

25% of 18-24 year old banking customers use social media for financial guidance; One in five (20%) of this age group have invested money based on social media recommendations; Yet, 33% of this age group are not confident in their financial knowledge to take out investment products. More young people are turning to social media rather than their bank for financial guidance, according to new research from Deloitte.

The purpose of this research has been to work with local authorities and their partners to understand the key enablers and barriers to sustained improvement in Children’s Services. This is an opportunity to refresh and build upon the research undertaken by Isos Partnership for the LGA on this topic in 2016.1 This research is based on interviews with national stakeholders; local fieldwork engagements in nine participating local areas that had improved children’s services or sustained strong performance over several years; and two online action-learning workshops with representatives from the nine participating local authorities to test and refine the findings of the research.

The Metropolitan police are failing in their efforts to protect children from criminal and sexual exploitation while bungling efforts to find missing young people, a damning official report has found.

• Figures obtained by BBC Radio 4’s File on 4 programme revealed there were more than 1,200 exclusions and suspensions of children assessed by social services to be grooming targets in England’s four largest drug-exporting regions between 2021 and 2023. • The data – which came from 37 councils in London, West Midlands, Greater Manchester and Merseyside – showed rising numbers of children at risk of criminal exploitation are being pushed out of mainstream schools. At least 600 vulnerable children were removed from classrooms either temporarily or permanently in 2022-23, up from 512 in 2021-22, across the 31 areas that provided figures for both years. • The former children’s commissioner Anne Longfield said the figures were deeply alarming. “These are the children who’ve already been identified and assessed as being very, very vulnerable,” she said. “We absolutely should use the knowledge that those children are vulnerable to make sure they get that ring of protection they need and that means they need to stay in school.”