Research reports

Gender and sexuality

EVAW A Whole School Approach to Ending Violence Against Women & Girls

End Violence Against Women Coalition · 2023

This mapping report by the End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW) examines the case for a Whole School Approach (WSA) to tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) in England, Scotland and Wales. Drawing on a survey of young people, focus groups, policy documents, and case study models from specialist VAWG organisations, the report finds that despite widespread evidence of sexual harassment in schools, national implementation of a WSA remains elusive due to lack of political will, insufficient funding, inadequate teacher training, and poor-quality RSHE delivery. The report highlights that nearly a third of girls surveyed do not feel safe from sexual harassment in school, and that marginalised groups — including Black, LGBTQ+ and disabled young people — face compounded risks. It makes recommendations to government, local commissioners, schools and inspectors for embedding a properly resourced, gendered and intersectional WSA.

Young people consultedSurveyFocus groupUK-wide

Education, learning and attainment

Social Mobility: The Next Generation – Lost Potential at Age 16

Sutton Trust · 2023

This report examines the educational trajectories of socio-economically disadvantaged young people who were high attainers at the end of primary school, comparing their progress to equally high-attaining but more affluent peers. It finds that disadvantaged high attainers have GCSE grades on average more than three-quarters of a grade lower per subject than other high attainers, and are almost twice as likely to fall out of the top third of attainment by Key Stage 4. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated existing inequalities, with disadvantaged high attainers more likely to lack suitable devices and study spaces during lockdowns, and more likely to feel they had fallen behind. The report calls for a national strategy to close attainment gaps, extended Pupil Premium funding to post-16 learners, and improved use of contextual admissions by universities.

SurveySecondary analysisEngland

Health and physical wellbeing

Health Report 2023

LGBT Youth Scotland · 2023

This report examines LGBTQ+ young people's experiences of health services in Scotland, drawing on qualitative responses from 1,279 participants in the Life in Scotland for LGBT Young People 2022 survey. Key findings show that young people face significant barriers to healthcare including long waiting lists (particularly for gender identity services), staff lacking understanding of LGBTQ+ identities, experiences of discrimination and misgendering, and difficulties disclosing their identity safely. The report makes concrete recommendations for NHS Boards and the Scottish Government on improving LGBTQ+ inclusivity in mental health, sexual health, and gender identity services.

SurveySecondary analysisScotland

Housing and homelessness

Failure to Act: The scale of youth homelessness in the UK (Databank 2022-23)

Centrepoint · 2023

Centrepoint's Youth Homelessness Databank estimates that 135,800 young people aged 16–24 across the UK presented to their local authority as homeless or at risk of homelessness in 2022/23, a 5% increase on the previous year and the sixth consecutive annual rise. In England, only 65% of presenting young people received an initial assessment and just 33% achieved a positive outcome — the lowest level recorded. The report highlights growing disparities between rural and urban areas, a 40% rise in evictions as a cause of homelessness, and the disproportionate impact of domestic abuse on young women.

Secondary analysisSurveyUK-wide

Arts, culture and creativity

The Arts in Schools: Foundations for the Future (Tambling & Bacon, A New Direction / Gulbenkian)

A New Direction & Gulbenkian Foundation · 2023

This report revisits the landmark 1982 Arts in Schools report to assess the state of arts education in English schools 40 years on. Drawing on roundtable consultations with over 300 education and arts professionals and a parallel young people's group, it finds that arts subjects have been systematically downgraded in the state school system, with access increasingly inequitable. The report argues for a new national debate about the purpose of education and recommends establishing Expressive Arts as a fully equal curriculum area, drawing on examples from Scotland and Wales.

Young people consultedFocus groupOtherUK-wide

Employment, skills and economic security

The Long Road to Change: Annual Survey 2023

Young Women's Trust · 2023

Young Women's Trust's 2023 annual survey finds that young women aged 18–30 in England and Wales are experiencing worsening financial hardship, persistent pay inequality, and rising levels of workplace discrimination compared to 2022. Half of young women reported experiencing discrimination at work, up from 42% the previous year, while 56% described their financial situation as uncomfortable. The survey also highlights compounding disadvantages for racially minoritised young women and those who are disabled, neurodivergent, or have mental health conditions. Findings are compared with a parallel survey of HR decision-makers, revealing significant gaps between employer perceptions and young women's lived experiences.

Young people consultedSurveyInterviewEnglandWales

Education, learning and attainment

Young Persons' Money Index 2021-22: examining the delivery of financial education in schools and the financial capability of young people in the UK

London Institute of Banking and Finance · 2022

This annual survey of over 2,000 UK secondary school students aged 15–18 tracks access to financial education and young people's financial capability. Key findings show that anxiety about money has reached a record high of 81%, with two-thirds attributing increased anxiety to Covid-19. While access to financial education in schools has improved (73% report some access, up from 64%), dedicated personal finance lessons remain rare, and young people's tested knowledge of financial concepts has deteriorated compared to the previous year. The vast majority (72%) say they want more financial education in school.

SurveyUK-wide

Employment, skills and economic security

Work Experience For All: exploring the impacts of work experience on young people's outcomes

Speakers for Schools · 2022

This report by Speakers for Schools analyses the impact of work experience on employment outcomes for young British adults aged 18–30. Using a YouGov survey of 2,098 respondents, it finds that participation in work experience is associated with a 3.4% higher average wage per additional type of experience and reduces the probability of becoming NEET from 11% to 7%. The report also reveals significant inequalities in access: pupils from independent schools were twice as likely to have had multiple work placements compared to state-educated peers, and access varied by socio-economic background, region, and ethnicity. The findings are used to make the case for universal access to quality work experience as a tool for improving social mobility.

SurveySecondary analysisUK-wide

Employment, skills and economic security

Proving the value of virtual work experience: an analysis of the post-placement video feedback from young people

Speakers for Schools · 2022

This report analyses video feedback from 202 young people who completed virtual work experience placements through Speakers for Schools to assess the value of online placements. Key findings show that virtual work experience helps young people gain career insights, develop essential skills such as teamwork and communication, and build self-efficacy and confidence. Around 60% of participants said virtual placements helped them learn about different careers and employers, and 43% reported a boost in confidence. The report argues that virtual work experience can deliver many of the same benefits as in-person placements and should be considered a valued part of careers education.

OtherSecondary analysisUK-wide

Criminal justice and youth violence

North West Westminster Serious Youth Violence Consultation Research Report, April–June 2021

Young Westminster Foundation · 2022

This consultation research examined serious youth violence in North West Westminster through surveys with 203 adults and parents, and focus groups with young people aged 16–25. Young people reported living in a state of constant fear, navigating complex territorial rules, and feeling little trust in the police — instead relying heavily on youth clubs for safety and support. The report finds that poverty, lack of opportunities, and insufficient youth provision are key drivers of violence, and recommends investment in youth services, employment pathways, and community-wide coordinated support.

SurveyFocus groupLondon

Mental health and wellbeing

How is the current cost of living affecting you? Survey results, December 2022

Young Scot · 2022

Young Scot surveyed 1,045 young people aged 11–25 across all Scottish local authority areas in autumn 2022 to understand the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on their daily lives, health, and finances. The findings reveal widespread negative effects: 80% had changed how they used heating, 50% reported poor mental health linked to the crisis, and over 70% were worried about their parents or carers. Young people described cutting back on food, socialising, and activities, and many were contributing more to household finances.

SurveyMixed methodsScotland

Employment, skills and economic security

Disruptive Futures: the young people who are changing the face of the future of work and entrepreneurship

The Social Innovation Partnership · 2022

This report explores how young people from Black, Asian, and ethnic minority communities and low socio-economic backgrounds in Brixton are building creative enterprises outside of the traditional creative and digital industries. Through in-depth interviews with 13 'Disruptors', the research identifies four key characteristics — cross-cultural dexterity, cultural integrity, agile disruptive networks, and being limitless — that underpin their entrepreneurial success. The report finds that these young people are operating highly innovative ventures largely below the radar, often despite systemic barriers including institutional racism, lack of access to finance, and exclusion from mainstream creative sector networks. It makes recommendations for building disruptive hubs, improving access to funding, and facilitating more equitable relationships between Disruptors and established organisations in the creative and digital industries.

Co-producedInterviewSecondary analysisLondon

Mental health and wellbeing

A Friend in Need: young people are showing they care more than ever

Co-op Foundation · 2022

This report presents findings from a UK-wide survey of 2,000 young people aged 10–25, exploring levels, causes and impacts of youth loneliness in 2022. It finds that 95% of young people feel lonely at some point, with 16–25-year-olds three times more likely to be chronically lonely than 10–15-year-olds. Despite increasing stigma and a slight decline in young people seeking help for themselves, 83% have taken action to help peers who may be lonely. The report highlights the cost of living crisis, digital access gaps, and rural stigma as factors shaping young people's experiences of loneliness.

SurveyUK-wide

Employment, skills and economic security

Youth Voice Census Report 2022

Youth Employment UK · 2022

The 2022 Youth Voice Census surveyed 4,083 young people aged 11–30 in England about their experiences of education, employment, and life in their local area. Key findings highlight an escalating mental health crisis, with anxiety a leading barrier to work and education; widespread feelings of unpreparedness for employment; and persistent inequalities for young people with protected characteristics, care experience, and those eligible for free school meals. The report also documents declining confidence in job application skills and ongoing disruption to careers education and work experience stemming from COVID-19.

SurveyInterviewEngland

Mental health and wellbeing

Generation Isolation 2022

OnSide Youth Zones · 2022

This report presents findings from a survey of over 5,000 young people aged 11–18 in England about how they spend their time outside school, their social connections, and their awareness of youth services. Key findings show that 77% of young people spend most of their free time at home, 41% lack opportunities to meet new people, and 56% report high or very high levels of anxiety. The report also finds that while youth centres have a strongly positive impact on attendees' lives — particularly in enabling friendships and building confidence — only 8% of young people currently attend one.

SurveyEngland

Care experience and family

It's harder than anyone understands (Young Carer Survey 2022)

Carers Trust · 2022

This Carers Trust survey of 571 young carers and young adult carers aged 12–25 across the UK found that large proportions regularly feel worried, stressed and lonely as a result of their caring role, with more than half reporting their caring hours had increased in the past year. Around two-thirds felt their school, college or university did not fully understand their situation, and many struggled to balance caring with education and paid work. The report calls on UK and devolved governments to improve access to breaks, mental health support, financial assistance and flexible working arrangements for young carers and young adult carers.

SurveyUK-wide

Identity, belonging and community

Life in Scotland for LGBT+ Young People

LGBT Youth Scotland · 2022

This large-scale survey of 1,279 LGBTI young people in Scotland tracks how life has changed over 15 years across areas including community, safety, health, education, work, and living situation. Key findings show a significant decline in wellbeing since 2017: fewer young people feel happy with their life as an LGBTI person in Scotland (down from 57% to 37%), confidence in reporting hate crime to police has fallen sharply, and the majority do not feel accurately represented in the media. While some improvements were recorded — such as more supportive coming-out experiences and fewer young people leaving home in negative circumstances — the overall picture shows that life for LGBTI young people in Scotland has worsened in many respects since the last survey in 2017.

Young people consultedSurveyMixed methodsScotland

Criminal justice and youth violence

IOPC Youth Panel National Survey Report

IOPC / Leaders Unlocked · 2022

This youth-led national survey gathered views from 1,957 young people aged 13–25 across England and Wales on their experiences of policing and the police complaints system. It found that while most young people (70%) trust their local police to some degree, 37% said their trust had declined over the past year, largely due to high-profile misconduct cases. Young people expressed low confidence that complaints would make a difference (83%), widespread ignorance of how to complain, and a strong desire for a truly independent complaints channel. The report sets out practical recommendations for policing and the IOPC on rebuilding trust, improving complaints accessibility, and better recognising the needs of young people — particularly young Black women and those with mental health or neurodivergent needs.

Youth-ledSurveyMixed methodsEnglandWales

Mental health and wellbeing

18 months lost and found: Reflections from a transnational participatory action research project exploring young people’s lived experiences of the COVID-19 crisis

Ecorys UK · 2022

This transnational participatory action research project engaged 70 young people aged 14–19 from the UK, Italy, Lebanon, and Singapore as co-researchers over 18 months (April 2020–November 2021) to document their lived experiences of the COVID-19 crisis. Young people reported significant educational disruption, worsening mental health, and a sense of political marginalisation, but also found unexpected opportunities for personal growth, community action, and democratic engagement. The project highlights young people's agency and resourcefulness during the pandemic, challenging media narratives that portrayed them as reckless or passive. Recommendations address governments, schools, media, and young people themselves on improving participation, mental health support, digital access, and educational accountability.

Co-producedParticipatoryLongitudinalUK-wide

Mental health and wellbeing

Belong Collective 'We choose to be here' : Why Youth Organisations Are Critical Support Mechanisms for Young People Facing Loneliness

UK Youth (Belong Collective) · 2022

This report explores how youth organisations have adapted their approaches to supporting young people facing loneliness in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. It finds that youth organisations have been at the forefront of tackling youth loneliness—developing digital offers, expanding detached youth work, building cross-sector partnerships, and creating inclusive and identity-led activities. The research highlights that young people want a more central role in designing and leading solutions, including peer-led groups, youth participation forums, and community events. The report makes policy and practice recommendations for funders, policy-makers, and youth sector leaders to invest in and empower youth organisations and young people as key agents in tackling loneliness.

Co-producedSurveyInterviewUK-wide

Employment, skills and economic security

Just Getting By: Annual Survey 2022 (4,075 Young Women + 1,040 Young Men + 911 HR DMs)

Young Women's Trust · 2022

Young Women's Trust's 2022 annual survey of over 4,000 young women aged 18–30 in England and Wales finds they are significantly more financially vulnerable than their male peers, with rising debt, food insecurity, and cost-of-living pressures hitting hardest those with caring responsibilities. Young women continue to face barriers to employment and progression, persistent gender pay gaps, and widespread workplace discrimination on grounds of age, gender, race, and caring responsibilities. Despite this, 62% remain optimistic about reaching their career goals. The report calls on government and employers to act on flexible working rights, pay transparency, childcare investment, and stronger equality protections.

Young people consultedSurveyMixed methodsEnglandWales

Care experience and family

Adoption UK Adoption Barometer 2022

Adoption UK · 2022

This annual survey of over 2,500 adoptive parents and prospective adopters across the UK examines experiences of the adoption process, post-adoption support, education, and birth family contact. Key findings show that 22% of adopted 16–25-year-olds were NEET at the end of 2021—more than twice the national average—and that 71% of adoptive families face a continual struggle to access the help they need. A supplementary survey of 282 adopted adults focused specifically on experiences of maintaining or establishing birth family relationships, finding significant gaps in counselling and support at every stage. The report includes nation-by-nation assessments of policy and practice across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

SurveyMixed methodsUK-wide

Mental health and wellbeing

10,000 Voices: The views of children in care on their well-being (Selwyn & Briheim-Crookall 2022)

Coram Voice / Rees Centre Oxford / Hadley Trust / Research in Practice · 2022

Drawing on over 10,000 survey responses collected between 2015 and 2021 from children in care aged 4–18, this report explores their subjective well-being across key indicators including safety, relationships, school, and involvement in decisions. Around a third of young people reported very high well-being, while roughly one in six (aged 11–18) showed low well-being. Key findings show that trusting relationships with carers and social workers, feeling safe and settled, and liking school were central to well-being, while girls, those in residential care, and older young people faced particular challenges. The report calls on local authorities to systematically listen to children in care and co-produce service improvements with them.

SurveyEngland

Criminal justice and youth violence

Children, Violence and Vulnerability: A Youth Endowment Fund Report into Young People's Experiences of Violence

Youth Endowment Fund · 2022

This report presents findings from a survey of 2,025 children aged 13–17 across England and Wales, examining their experiences of violence, fear of violence, and related behaviours. Key findings include that 14% of teenage children were victims of violence in the past 12 months, 55% had seen real-life violence on social media, and 65% had changed their behaviour due to fear of violence. The report also analyses national data across ten indicators of violence and vulnerability, finding that while some forms of violence fell during the pandemic, homicides and serious violence have largely returned to pre-Covid levels, and racial disproportionality in the youth justice system is growing.

SurveySecondary analysisEnglandWales

Results