Research reports

Arts, culture and creativity

Theatre Transformed: Research, Innovation and Industry Insight

National Theatre · 2025

This report, commissioned by the National Theatre, maps how research, development and innovation (RD&I) already operates across the UK theatre sector and assesses the policy mechanisms supporting it. It finds that RD&I is embedded throughout the theatrical production cycle — from artistic and technical innovation to audience engagement and sustainability — but that the sector is significantly under-represented in government innovation funding, with only 1.2% of UKRI theatre-related projects listing a theatre as lead partner. The report makes recommendations to government, UKRI, and the sector itself to unlock theatre's full innovation potential, including through dedicated funding streams, clearer tax guidance, and more performing arts organisations obtaining Independent Research Organisation status.

Secondary analysisInterviewUK-wide

Mental health and wellbeing

#BeeWell 2025 Greater Manchester Headline Findings 2024/25: Survey Responses Completed By Over 36,000 Young People in Years 7 and 10

Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) · 2025

The 2024/25 #BeeWell survey heard from 36,494 young people in Years 7 and 10 across 147 secondary schools in Greater Manchester, tracking wellbeing across domains of happiness, health, safety, and future success. Wellbeing levels in Year 10 have remained broadly stable since 2023, with 55.1% reporting "good" wellbeing, though persistent inequalities by gender, sexual orientation, neighbourhood, and ethnicity remain. Key concerns include low rates of healthy eating (only one in ten meeting five-a-day guidelines), girls' significantly lower physical activity levels, and a quarter of young people lacking someone to talk to about their worries. The report sets out priority actions for schools, local authorities, and community partners across Greater Manchester.

Young people consultedSurveyMixed methodsNorth West

Employment, skills and economic security

Just the Way It Is? Young Creatives Demand Safety and Rights in Music

Youth Music · 2025

This report investigates how young creatives aged 18–25 experience harm within the UK music industries, drawing on focus group testimonies from 19 participants. It finds that harm — including low and no pay, unsafe work environments, discrimination, sexual harassment, and exploitation — is widespread and normalised, with marginalised young people (those who are disabled, LGBTQ+, women, or from working-class backgrounds) facing the greatest risk. Young creatives are largely left to manage their own safety, relying on gut instinct, peer networks, and informal strategies that are unsustainable. The report makes recommendations for government, industry employers, funders, and pathway providers to create safer, fairer, and more inclusive working conditions.

Focus groupUK-wide

Mental health and wellbeing

Young People's Wellbeing in Doubly Disadvantaged Neighbourhoods in Greater Manchester

Local Trust / #BeeWell / Centre for Education and Youth · 2025

This report examines the wellbeing of young people living in 'doubly disadvantaged neighbourhoods' (DDNs) — areas that are both materially deprived and lack social infrastructure — in Greater Manchester, comparing them with peers in non-DDNs. Using survey data from over 62,000 young people and two online focus group workshops, the study finds that young people in DDNs report worse life satisfaction, greater feelings of unsafety, and slightly higher loneliness than those in non-DDNs. The gaps are most pronounced for girls, LGBTQ+ young people, and white young people. Recommendations include greater involvement of young people in local decision-making and ring-fenced funding to protect informal 'third places' for socialising.

SurveyFocus groupNorth West

Identity, belonging and community

OnSide Generation Isolation 2025: Social Lives, Trust and Connection in an AI Age

OnSide Youth Zones · 2025

This fourth annual OnSide Generation Isolation report surveys 5,035 young people aged 11–18 in England about how they spend their free time, their social connections, and their use of digital technology including AI. Key findings include that 76% of young people spend most of their free time on screens, 39% have turned to AI chatbots for advice, company or support, and 34% report high or very high feelings of loneliness. While 53% say social media makes friendships easier, 49% feel most connected when spending time together in person, and 92% of youth club attendees say it has made a positive difference to their lives.

SurveyEngland

Mental health and wellbeing

Generation Isolation 2024

OnSide Youth Zones · 2024

OnSide's third annual Generation Isolation study surveyed 5,213 young people aged 11–18 in England about how they spend their time outside school. The research finds that 76% spend most of their free time on screens, 44% report high or very high feelings of loneliness, and 51% report high or very high anxiety. Despite these challenges, 93% of young people who do attend a youth centre say it has made a positive difference to their lives, with social connection and friendship cited as the main benefits.

SurveyEngland

Mental health and wellbeing

Generation Isolation 2024: OnSide's Annual Study into Young People's Lives Outside School

OnSide Youth Zones · 2024

This annual survey of 5,213 young people aged 11–18 in England finds that 76% spend most of their free time on screens, 51% report high or very high anxiety, and 44% report high or very high loneliness. Most young people spend their free time at home, often alone or communicating online rather than socialising in person. The report also explores young people's views on youth services, finding that 85% do not attend a youth centre, but 93% of those who do say it has made a positive difference to their lives. Key drivers of screen use include boredom, habit, and a lack of safe spaces to meet friends in real life.

SurveyEngland

Arts, culture and creativity

A Class Act: Social Mobility and the Creative Industries

Sutton Trust · 2024

This report examines socio-economic inequalities in access to creative higher education and the creative industries in the UK. Using new analysis of HESA Student Records data (2017/18–2021/22) and the Labour Force Survey (2014–2022), alongside desk-based research into the educational backgrounds of elite figures in TV, film and music, it finds that students from working-class backgrounds are significantly underrepresented on creative degrees at prestigious universities and specialist conservatoires, and that privately educated individuals dominate high-profile creative careers, particularly in classical music and acting. The report calls for action from government, higher education institutions and employers to improve access across the education pipeline and the creative workforce.

Secondary analysisOtherUK-wide

Employment, skills and economic security

Bright Futures: Jack Petchey Survey of Young People's Ambitions

Jack Petchey Foundation · 2024

The Jack Petchey Foundation surveyed nearly 3,000 young people aged 11–25 across London and Essex about their career ambitions, the opportunities available to them, and what support they need to achieve their goals. Key findings include that most young people think about their future careers regularly, value real-world work experience above a university degree, and rely heavily on family for career guidance. The report highlights gaps in provision — particularly for those without family support networks — and calls for more mentorship, apprenticeships, and career guidance opportunities.

Co-producedSurveyLondonEast of England

Arts, culture and creativity

The Sound of the Next Generation (2024)

Youth Music / Ipsos · 2024

This report presents findings from a large-scale survey of young people in the UK about their relationship with music — how they listen, create, and engage with music in their daily lives. The 2024 wave explores generational trends in music consumption, participation in music-making, and attitudes towards music education. Key findings highlight the central role of streaming and social media in how young people discover and share music, as well as disparities in access to music-making opportunities based on socioeconomic background.

SurveyUK-wide

Arts, culture and creativity

UK Arts, Culture and Young People: Innovative Practice and Trends

British Council / Tialt · 2024

This UK-wide research explores how arts and cultural organisations are responding to the needs of young people aged 11–24, drawing on a literature review, stakeholder interviews with national arts funders, a survey of organisations, a focus group, and nine in-depth case studies. Key issues identified include barriers to access, rising poor mental health, neurodiversity, global crises, declining creative education, and the need for stronger youth voice. The report finds that effective practice is characterised by co-creation, trust-based relationships, flexibility, place-based working, and putting young people's rights at the centre of programme design. Practitioners and funders call for long-term, iterative funding, more opportunities to share practice across the UK and internationally, and greater power handed to young people in shaping cultural provision.

SurveyInterviewUK-wide

Identity, belonging and community

A bhith an sàs le Gàidhlig air loidhne: toraidhean an t-suirbhidh, Màrt 2023 (Engaging with Gaelic online: survey results, March 2023)

Young Scot · 2023

Young Scot surveyed 929 young people in Scotland about their engagement with Gaelic online, covering awareness, attitudes, and preferred platforms and content types. Key findings show growing interest in learning Gaelic, with 67.8% of non-Gaelic speakers expressing a desire to learn, up from 49.6% in the first survey. The majority of respondents (81.1%) want to see more Gaelic content online, with short-form videos on TikTok and Instagram Reels being the most preferred format. Fluent speakers highlighted a preference for English-language resources due to ease of access, while also expressing demand for more Gaelic content around youth opportunities, news, and culture.

SurveyScotland

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

Environment and climate

Calling for Change: Young Londoners' Views on a Sustainable Future for Their City

Partnership for Young London · 2023

This report presents the views of over 1,000 young Londoners aged 16–25 on environmental sustainability, gathered through a survey and four focus groups. Young Londoners do not believe London is currently a sustainable city and want to see major changes to transport, housing, and urban planning, with responsibility placed primarily on national and regional government and large corporations. The research finds that while young people are motivated to take action, they face significant barriers including cost, lack of information, and limited formal education on environmental issues. It also explores what role London Museum could play in engaging young people on climate and sustainability issues.

Co-producedSurveyFocus groupLondon

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

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

Arts, culture and creativity

Looking Beyond Lockdown: Arts Organisations Supporting Young People's Wellbeing

People's Palace Projects / QMUL / Battersea Arts Centre / Contact / NTW / Theatre Royal Stratford East / Dirty Protest · 2022

This mixed-methods study examined how five UK community arts organisations (based in Manchester, London, and Wales) supported young people's mental health and wellbeing during and after COVID-19 lockdowns, including the shift to online delivery. The quantitative strand surveyed 141 young people aged 16–29 about their pandemic experiences and arts engagement, while the qualitative strand drew on semi-structured interviews with 46 young people, 28 staff, and 16 stakeholders. Key findings show that while the move to digital expanded reach and offered safety for some shy participants, it also reduced connection, deepened digital poverty, and eroded the informal bonds central to participatory arts. The report recommends improved mental health training for arts staff, hybrid delivery models, and stronger cross-sector partnerships to sustain support for young people post-pandemic.

Young people consultedSurveyInterviewEnglandWales

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

Arts, culture and creativity

The Sound of the Next Generation (2019): A Comprehensive Review of Children and Young People's Relationship with Music

Youth Music · 2019

This report by Youth Music and Ipsos MORI examines how children and young people in England aged 7–17 engage with music — as listeners, creators, and learners. It finds that music is young people's favourite pastime, that two-thirds actively make music, and that participation has increased since a 2006 benchmark survey. Key findings include a decline in secondary school music, significant wellbeing benefits from music-making, and disparities in formal music education access linked to socioeconomic background. The report calls on policymakers, educators, and the music industry to collaborate more closely and make music education more inclusive and industry-relevant.

SurveyInterviewEngland

Arts, culture and creativity

Under 30s and Film: Attitudes, Behaviours and Profiles of Young Independent Film Audiences

BIFA / BFI / The Audience Agency · 2019

This BIFA-commissioned report explores how young people aged 16–29 in the UK engage with independent and non-mainstream film, across both cinema and digital platforms. It finds that under-30s love film and value cinema as a social experience, but cost is a key barrier to watching non-mainstream titles at the cinema; digital platforms are instead the primary place of film discovery for this age group. The report segments audiences by age and level of film interest, offering practical recommendations for distributors, exhibitors and digital platforms on how to reach and engage younger audiences with independent film.

SurveyFocus groupUK-wide

Arts, culture and creativity

Test, Risk, Change: Circuit Learning and Findings

Tate / Paul Hamlyn Foundation · 2017

Circuit was a four-year national programme (2013–17) led by Tate and funded by Paul Hamlyn Foundation, connecting 15–25 year olds with ten galleries across England and Wales through partnerships with youth sector organisations. The report presents findings, barriers and recommendations across three areas: building partnerships between galleries and the youth sector; motivation for diversity and change; and supporting young people as cultural producers. Key findings include that galleries struggled to engage the most marginalised young people in sustained roles, that class and perceptual barriers remained significant, and that peer-led models and genuine co-production increased young people's confidence, skills and civic engagement. The report calls for long-term cross-sector collaboration, diversified workforces and sustained organisational change to make galleries genuinely inclusive.

Co-producedSurveyInterviewEnglandWales

Gender and sexuality

Scotswummin: Youth Work's Contribution to the Women's Movement

YouthLink Scotland · 2017

This report examines the contribution of youth work to the women's movement in Scotland from 1850 to the present day. Drawing on original oral history interviews with youth work practitioners, academics, and members of organisations such as the Girl Guides, as well as a review of historical archives, the report traces how girls-only clubs, feminist youth work practice in the 1970s–80s, and voluntary sector organisations empowered successive generations of girls and young women. It finds that while an explicitly feminist approach to youth work largely disappeared by the early 1990s due to funding pressures and policy shifts, the voluntary sector continues to champion girls- and young-women-only spaces, and calls for renewed attention to gender dynamics in youth work today.

InterviewFocus groupScotland

Arts, culture and creativity

An Overview of a New Direction's Cultural Capital Research within the Context of Wider Research into the Impact of Wealth Inequality on Young People's Participation in Arts, Cultural, and Extra-Curricular Activities

A New Direction · 2014

A New Direction surveyed 1,689 young Londoners aged 13–19 to explore differences in arts and cultural engagement between young people from lower-income families and their peers. The research found consistent gaps in engagement, cultural vocabulary and awareness of opportunities between those receiving free school meals and better-off young people. Key barriers included social, economic, physical and psychological factors — particularly a sense of identity as a 'non-attendee' among poorer young people. The report argues that arts and cultural engagement could play a meaningful role in supporting social mobility and closing the attainment gap.

SurveyMixed methodsLondon

Arts, culture and creativity

Cultural Engagement by Young Londoners: An Introduction to Key Trends, Drivers and Challenges (TNS survey of 1,664 young Londoners 11-25)

A New Direction · 2013

A survey of 1,664 young Londoners aged 11–25 found generally high levels of cultural engagement, but with notable disparities by age, social grade, and geography. Schools play a crucial role in equalising access among 11–15 year olds, but engagement drops sharply after age 16, particularly for those who are NEET. Young people in outer London boroughs consistently show lower attendance at cultural venues and events than those in inner London, largely driven by proximity to cultural venues. NEET young people are identified as the most disadvantaged group for cultural engagement, facing compounding barriers including loss of school support, limited income, and social isolation.

SurveyLondon

Results