Research reports

Employment, skills and economic security

The Recent Evolution of Apprenticeships

Sutton Trust · 2022

This report analyses how apprenticeships in England changed between 2014 and 2020, drawing on administrative data from the Individualised Learner Record matched to the National Pupil Database. It finds that while the Apprenticeship Levy and associated reforms shifted the composition of apprenticeships upward — with growth in Higher and Degree Apprenticeships — these gains have disproportionately benefited older workers (25+) and those from more advantaged backgrounds. Young people aged 16–24, those from deprived areas, and those eligible for free school meals are increasingly under-represented at higher apprenticeship levels, raising concerns about social mobility. Non-completion and early dropout remain widespread problems across all levels.

Secondary analysisEngland

Gender and sexuality

"Everything is Racialised on Top" Black and Minoritised Girls' and Young Women's Experiences of Public Sexual Harassment in the UK

Plan International UK / University of York · 2022

This qualitative study explores how Black and minoritised girls and young women in England experience public sexual harassment (PSH), finding that their experiences are distinctly shaped by the intersection of racism and sexism. Participants described racialised forms of harassment across online, school and public spaces, including oversexualisation, exoticisation and faith-based targeting. The research also reveals significant barriers to reporting PSH, including mistrust of the police, victim-blaming within families and communities, and institutional inaction in schools. Girls and young women call for systemic and cultural change, improved education — including anti-racist relationships and sex education — and better reporting systems.

Co-producedInterviewFocus groupEngland

Health and physical wellbeing

Reframing Sport for Teenage Girls: Tackling Teenage Disengagement

Women in Sport · 2022

This report examines why teenage girls disengage from sport and physical activity, drawing on a nationally representative survey of over 4,000 adolescent girls and boys aged 11–18. Key findings show that girls are significantly less active than boys, with disengagement accelerating after primary school and again at ages 17–18; barriers include low confidence, body image concerns, fear of judgement, and the challenges of puberty including periods. The report identifies three segments of girls — 'Sporty Now', 'Used to be Sporty', and 'Never Sporty' — each with distinct needs. It provides eight evidence-based principles to help sport and exercise providers re-engage girls across the spectrum of engagement.

SurveyUK-wide

Digital life and online safety

Digital Wellbeing Report: Care Experienced Community

Who Cares? Scotland · 2022

Who Cares? Scotland's Digital Wellbeing Group — four care-experienced members — designed and ran a survey of 92 care-experienced people across 24 Scottish local authorities to explore online safety, digital relationships, and digital rights. The findings show that while 65–66% of respondents feel safe online, 65% had never accessed online safety training, and cyberbullying, fraud, and harassment were the main concerns. Digital connection was strongly valued for maintaining family and friendship ties, and 80% of participants were aware of their digital rights, though the group identified clear gaps and plan to create accessible resources including a podcast, information pack, and storybook to address them.

Co-producedSurveyParticipatoryScotland

Employment, skills and economic security

Making up for lost time: understanding young people's hopes and expectations as we start to make up for lost time

Speakers for Schools · 2021

This report by Speakers for Schools, conducted in partnership with YouGov, explores the hopes, needs and expectations of young people aged 11–19 in the UK as they recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Key findings show that young people prioritise work experience, mental health support, and tutoring to make up for lost time, and that they feel significantly let down by politicians and business leaders who overestimate their own understanding of young people's needs. The research also identifies a major "trust gap" between young people and decision-makers, with recommendations for government and employers to expand access to quality work experience and wellbeing support.

SurveyInterviewUK-wide

Mental health and wellbeing

Locked down, looking out: how young people embraced co-operative values to tackle the challenges of lockdown

Co-op Foundation · 2021

This report explores how young people aged 10–25 in the UK experienced loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic and the actions they took to support themselves and others. Key findings show that 73% of young people felt lonely at least occasionally during lockdown, with more than half saying it had worsened since March 2020. Despite this, many young people demonstrated co-operative behaviours — reaching out to friends, making new connections, and taking action to help peers — with 82% having taken at least one action to help someone who felt lonely. The report highlights both the resilience of young people and ongoing barriers such as stigma around discussing loneliness.

SurveyUK-wide

Civic participation and youth voice

Overlooked: Young People and Rural Youth Services

National Youth Agency · 2021

Young people in rural England are significantly underserved by youth services, with per-head spending dropping from £108 to just £47 since 2011 — less than half urban rates. The report finds that 2.25 million rural young people face a combination of reduced or absent youth provision, poor transport, limited digital connectivity, and hidden poverty that compound their disadvantage. It calls for a Rural Action Plan co-designed with young people, ring-fenced funding, deployment of qualified youth workers, and investment in community assets and digital infrastructure to address these inequalities.

Secondary analysisEngland

Mental health and wellbeing

LockdownLowdown phase 3

Scottish Youth Parliament / YouthLink Scotland / Young Scot · 2021

This third #LockdownLowdown survey gathered responses from over 2,400 young people across Scotland in Spring 2021 to understand the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as lockdown restrictions began to ease. Key findings show that most secondary school pupils were unhappy with their assessment arrangements, mental health and wellbeing remained a significant concern for many young people, and confidence in future employment was mixed. Young people consistently called for more mental health support, careers advice in schools, and a return to in-person learning and socialising.

SurveyScotland

Mental health and wellbeing

One Small Step (youth loneliness research)

Co-op Foundation · 2021

This report presents findings from a UK-wide survey of 2,001 young people aged 10–25 on loneliness and its impacts. It finds that 71% of young people experience loneliness at least occasionally, with older age groups (16–25), those who have received free school meals, and those outside structured environments like school being most affected. Loneliness is strongly linked to poorer mental wellbeing and heightened anxiety, and significant stigma remains, particularly among boys and young men. The report highlights proactive social actions (such as spending time with friends or family) as the most effective ways young people combat loneliness, and calls on wider society to be kinder, more supportive, and more open about the issue.

SurveyUK-wide

Mental health and wellbeing

Girls' Attitudes Survey 2021

Girlguiding · 2021

Girlguiding's 2021 Girls' Attitudes Survey captures how Covid-19 has affected girls and young women aged 7–21 across the UK, finding a sharp decline in happiness and significant rises in loneliness, anxiety and online harms. Girls report struggling with remote learning, worrying about falling behind academically, and facing ongoing barriers to STEM subjects. The pandemic has also shifted career aspirations and heightened financial worries, while the majority experienced some form of harmful online content in the past year. The findings point to an urgent need for greater support for girls' mental health, education and safety online.

Co-producedSurveyInterviewUK-wide

Employment, skills and economic security

Youth Voice Census Report 2021

Youth Employment UK · 2021

The 2021 Youth Voice Census gathered the views and experiences of over 3,400 young people aged 14–24 across England on education, employment, and life in their local area. Key findings show widespread disconnection: only 9.9% of young people were confident they could find quality work where they live, and 81.9% felt there were not enough opportunities to share their views on important issues. Mental health concerns emerged as a top barrier across all groups — those in education, looking for work, and in employment — with inequalities by gender, ethnicity, free school meals eligibility, and additional needs running throughout the data.

SurveyEngland

Mental health and wellbeing

Research Study into Resilience in Young People (Bristol)

Creative Youth Network / Bristol City Council / University of Bristol · 2021

This mixed-methods study explored the factors that build or undermine resilience in young people receiving one-to-one Targeted Youth Services (TYS) from Creative Youth Network in Bristol. Drawing on 60 qualitative interviews with 21 young people and 47 surveys, the research found that resilience is shaped by a complex interplay of individual, relational, community, environmental and educational factors — not by personal character alone. Targeted youth worker support was found to help young people develop new coping strategies, improve confidence and reduce maladaptive behaviours such as drug use. However, many resilience-shaping factors — including unsafe neighbourhoods, unstable family environments and limited local resources — remain outside both the individual's and the service's direct control.

InterviewSurveySouth West

Gender and sexuality

Research Briefing: It Happens All the Time; Girls' and Young Women's Experiences of Sexual Harrassment

Girlguiding · 2021

This survey of over 400 girls and young women aged 13–18 across the UK found that two thirds had experienced sexual harassment from other students at school, and 80% felt unsafe when out alone. Fear of harassment significantly limited girls' freedom, opportunities, and mental health, with older girls and those identifying as LGBQ or girls of colour disproportionately affected. Girls reported widespread barriers to reporting harassment and called for urgent action from schools, government, and the media.

SurveyUK-wide

Environment and climate

Climate Change and Young People in Copeland: A Series of Youth Group Activities Run in Conjunction with the Copeland People's Panel on Climate Change

Shared Future CIC / CAfS · 2021

Four participatory workshop sessions were run with 62 young people aged 11–19 across seven youth groups in Copeland, exploring how young people view their communities, understand climate change, and what solutions they want to see locally. Findings show young people are concerned about climate change but lack specific knowledge about local emissions. Young people recommended better public transport, more tree planting, support for electric vehicles, and renewable energy, while also expressing frustration that their voices are not heard by decision-makers. The results were fed directly into the Copeland People's Panel on Climate Change to inform its final recommendations.

Co-producedParticipatoryOtherNorth West

Mental health and wellbeing

Working Towards Mentally Healthy Schools and Colleges: The Voice of Students (3,000+ Young People 11-19)

Anna Freud Centre · 2021

A survey of 3,298 young people aged 11–19 across the UK explored their views on mental health support in secondary schools and FE colleges. Young people overwhelmingly wanted mental health to be taught in school, with depression and anxiety, body image, and identity identified as the most important topics. Friendships, family and relationships were seen as positive influences on mental health, while schoolwork, exams and family were the top negative factors. Just over half said they would speak to an adult at school about mental health concerns, with trusted teachers and school counsellors being the preferred contacts.

SurveyUK-wide

Mental health and wellbeing

Growing up LGBT+: The impact of school, home and coronavirus on LGBT+ young people

Just Like Us · 2021

This UK-wide survey of 2,934 pupils aged 11–18 and 513 school and college staff examined the wellbeing, school experiences, and pandemic impact on LGBT+ young people compared to their non-LGBT+ peers. LGBT+ young people reported significantly worse mental health outcomes, including being twice as likely to contemplate suicide, three times more likely to self-harm, and twice as likely to feel lonely during lockdown. The research found that schools with strong positive LGBT+ messaging saw notably improved wellbeing and safety for all pupils, and that Black, disabled, and free-school-meal-eligible LGBT+ young people faced the greatest challenges. The report concludes with practical recommendations for schools, colleges, and parents to better support LGBT+ young people.

SurveyMixed methodsUK-wide

Employment, skills and economic security

Not Just Any Job, Good Jobs! Youth Voices from Across the UK

Institute for Employment Studies (IES) · 2021

This report presents findings from a large-scale mixed-methods study with 1,345 young people aged 16–25 across all four UK nations, exploring their views on good quality work, barriers to accessing it, and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Young people value stimulating, fulfilling work that supports their wellbeing, but many feel good quality work is a privilege beyond their reach, particularly those in lower-skilled sectors or deprived areas. The pandemic has worsened working conditions and dented young people's confidence and aspirations. The report calls for stronger employment regulation, improved careers support, greater focus on the 16–18 age group, place-based approaches, and better mental health provision.

Young people consultedSurveyInterviewUK-wide

Mental health and wellbeing

Mental Health Act

YoungMinds · 2021

This report presents findings from workshops and one-to-one calls with 19 young people aged 16–25 who had lived experience of the Mental Health Act, conducted by YoungMinds on behalf of Rethink Mental Illness as part of the public consultation on proposed MHA reforms. The overarching finding was that young people did not feel listened to or meaningfully involved in their care and treatment. Key themes included the need for individualised, person-centred care; clearer communication of rights; better access to advocacy; and improved support during transitions from CAMHS to adult mental health services. The report makes recommendations on advocacy access, autonomy, consistency of care, neurodiversity awareness, and staff communication.

Young people consultedFocus groupInterviewUK-wide

Housing and homelessness

The LGBTQ+ Youth Homelessness Report 2021

akt · 2021

This report examines the experiences of LGBTQ+ young people aged 16–25 who have experienced homelessness in the UK. It finds that most faced abuse from family members before becoming homeless, that 92% reported a negative impact on their mental health, and that over half experienced discrimination when accessing support services. Trans, disabled, and young people of colour were disproportionately affected across almost all measures. The report makes recommendations to government, local authorities, housing services, and the LGBTQ+ sector to improve awareness, inclusion, and specialist provision.

SurveyInterviewUK-wide

Housing and homelessness

Lgbtq+ Youth Homelessness Report

akt / Albert Kennedy Trust / YouGov / Homeless Link · 2021

This report by akt examines the experiences of LGBTQ+ young people who have faced homelessness in the UK, including the abuse they experienced from family members and romantic partners, the impact of homelessness on their mental and physical health, and their awareness of and access to support services. Key findings include that 92% of respondents said homelessness had a negative impact on their mental health, only 13% felt supported by parents while homeless, and over half had faced discrimination when accessing services. The report makes recommendations to government, local authorities, and the housing sector to improve monitoring, prevention, and inclusive service delivery for LGBTQ+ young people facing homelessness.

SurveyInterviewUK-wide

Education, learning and attainment

Inequality in the Highest Degree? Postgraduate Access

Sutton Trust · 2021

This report investigates socioeconomic inequalities in access to postgraduate (master's and research) education in the UK, using large-scale graduate survey data covering 2012/13–2017/18. It finds that while master's loans introduced from 2016 have increased progression rates for all graduates and narrowed the gap between socioeconomic groups, disadvantaged students remain less likely to access postgraduate study — particularly at the most prestigious institutions. Postgraduate tuition fees have risen well beyond inflation, with the result that loan funding is increasingly insufficient to cover the full cost of study and living, especially at Russell Group universities.

Secondary analysisUK-wide

Criminal justice and youth violence

Hampshire Youth Commission Report

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Youth Commission · 2021

The Hampshire & Isle of Wight Youth Commission conducted its 'Big Conversation' between January 2020 and September 2021, gathering 2,042 responses from young people on their experiences and views around serious violence, exploitation, hate crime, and other issues. The report finds that education, greater police visibility, improved awareness of support services, and stronger protections against online harm are the priorities most frequently identified by young people. Recommendations covering knife crime, exploitation, hate crime reporting, and training for adults and institutions are addressed to police, criminal justice partners, schools, and employers across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Co-producedSurveyFocus groupSouth East

Employment, skills and economic security

Alternative career routes the rise of the young entrepreneur

ClearView Research · 2021

This qualitative study explores the motivations, experiences and challenges of young entrepreneurs aged 16–25 in England who face multiple barriers (e.g. low income, care experience, criminal records, caring responsibilities). Using peer-researcher-led focus groups and interviews, the report finds that most young entrepreneurs are driven by a genuine desire to pursue entrepreneurship — through passion, social change, or financial necessity — rather than as a last resort. A key finding is that lack of accessible information, guidance and funding is the biggest barrier, while discrimination based on race and gender also affects young entrepreneurs' experiences. The report recommends investment in mentorship programmes, a central information hub, and championing entrepreneurship as a mainstream career route for young people.

Co-producedInterviewFocus groupEngland

Employment, skills and economic security

BTEG 2021 Young People Survey

Black Training and Enterprise Group (BTEG) · 2021

BTEG's 2021 Young People Survey captures the views of nearly 250 Black, Asian and Mixed ethnicity young people across the UK on jobs, apprenticeships, careers, and wider priority issues during the Covid-19 pandemic. The findings show that most respondents are worried the pandemic will negatively affect their future employment, with racial discrimination cited as a major personal and societal concern — far more so than for young people generally. While more respondents felt confident than not about their future careers, a substantial minority reported being NEET, and racial discrimination was the second most-cited reason for not being in employment or training. Young people called for improved mental health services, financial support to tackle poverty, greater youth voice, and education to address racial discrimination.

SurveyUK-wide

Results