The Children’s Society’s Good Childhood Report, now in its 15th year, presents trends in children and young people’s wellbeing and explores the theme of belonging, drawing on household survey and Understanding Society data, insights from young people including Young Advisors who researched with their peers, and a survey of professionals who work with them. Key findings show:

• The 2026 household survey found 10% of children and young people had low wellbeing, with school the aspect of life they were most commonly unhappy with and rising prices their main worry about society
• In the Understanding Society survey, children’s average happiness with all six aspects of life remains significantly lower than when the survey began in 2009/10, and in 2023/24 females were significantly less happy than males with life as a whole, appearance, school and, for the first time since 2016/17, friends
• Low wellbeing was significantly associated with a lower sense of belonging, with nearly a quarter of young people with low wellbeing not feeling they belonged in their community and over two in five feeling uncomfortable and out of place in their local area
• Of 31 professionals surveyed, 26 did not feel there were enough appropriate places for young people in their areas, and low wellbeing was significantly associated with not having a trusted adult to turn to

The report recommends the four Ps of belonging: people young people trust, places they belong, power to influence decisions, and pathways to opportunities and support