Research reports

Health and physical wellbeing

Young People Missing From Vaccine Services

YouthLink Scotland · 2026

This Scottish study explored why young people aged 11–18 are missing from vaccine services, examining their attitudes, knowledge, and barriers to vaccination. Key findings show that fears about needles and side effects, embarrassment, parental influence, and lack of clear information are the main barriers. Young people overwhelmingly trust NHS healthcare professionals for vaccine information and want honest, reassuring campaigns delivered in schools and on TikTok, with more private spaces provided when vaccines are administered.

SurveyFocus groupScotland

Civic participation and youth voice

Young People and Politics: information literacy and political participation in Scotland

Scottish Youth Parliament / Young Scot · 2026

This report explores how young people in Scotland aged 11–25 access political information, form political views, and participate in democracy. It finds that while most young people recognise politics affects their lives, fewer than half feel they can make a difference in local or national decisions, and over three-quarters rely on social media as their primary news source. Young people called for clearer, unbiased political education in schools, better tools to identify misinformation, and more meaningful involvement in decision-making. Gendered differences were notable, with boys and young men feeling more confident about politics while girls and young women were more likely to find it hard to distinguish true from fake information online.

Co-producedSurveyFocus groupScotland

Health and physical wellbeing

Views on gambling, gaming and cryptocurrency: survey report, February 2025

Young Scot · 2025

This survey by Young Scot and Fast Forward explored young people's views on gambling, gaming, and cryptocurrency, with 406 respondents across Scotland. Key findings show that 91% had played video games in the last year, 22% had gambled in the past 12 months, and 83% had heard of cryptocurrency. The report highlights concerns about loot boxes, addiction, financial harm, and barriers to seeking help — notably that 40% of respondents worried their parents would find out if they sought gambling support. Recommendations include improving access to information and clarifying confidentiality for young people seeking support.

SurveyScotland

Mental health and wellbeing

Truth About Youth: our 2025 insights survey

Young Scot · 2025

Young Scot surveyed 2,590 young people aged 11–25 across Scotland between September 2024 and January 2025 on a wide range of issues including wellbeing, safety, health, climate change, cyber crime, and children's rights. Most respondents could identify something to look forward to, but 43% said their mental health had worsened since 2019, and only 16% felt that policy and decision makers understood the issues facing young people. The most pressing concerns were lack of affordable housing, poverty, racism and prejudice, and the climate emergency, with education identified as the most important issue for young people in Scotland right now.

SurveyScotland

Gender and sexuality

Children, Violence and Vulnerability 2025 — Report 2: Relationships

Youth Endowment Fund · 2025

This report presents findings from a large annual survey of nearly 11,000 13–17-year-olds in England and Wales about violence in teenage relationships. It finds that two in five teens who had been in a relationship in the past year experienced some form of emotional or physical abuse, with rates high for both girls and boys. Teens exposed to sexually violent content online, or to abuse at home, were significantly more likely to hold permissive attitudes toward sexual aggression and to commit relationship abuse themselves. The report highlights the need for relationship education in schools and evidence-based bystander and prevention programmes.

Young people consultedSurveyEnglandWales

Mental health and wellbeing

Young Scot BIG Survey 2023-24

Young Scot · 2025

Young Scot's first BIG Survey gathered views from 2,014 young people aged 11–25 across Scotland between September 2023 and January 2024. The survey found that while young people felt broadly positive about family and friends, only 18% felt great about how things were going in Scotland, and 62% felt negative about the world. Mental health was the top concern for personal health (35%), with 47% reporting their mental health had worsened since 2019; other key findings covered digital and AI use, awareness of rights under the UNCRC, and financial pressures including 74% always looking to cut costs.

SurveyScotland

Mental health and wellbeing

Understanding Drivers of Recent Trends in Young People's Labour Market Outcomes (Technical Report)

Youth Futures Foundation · 2025

This technical report investigates the drivers behind observed increases in young people's mental health problems in England, drawing on longitudinal survey data (Understanding Society and CPRD) and a series of systematic literature reviews. The quantitative analysis examines trends in mental health symptoms by subgroup (gender, ethnicity, income, region), tests whether measurement of symptoms has changed over time, and assesses whether the impact of mental distress on adverse outcomes (e.g. NEET status) has shifted. Ten theoretical drivers are evaluated — including academic pressure, economic conditions, COVID-19, social media use, and cuts to children and youth services — reviewing the strength of evidence for each as a causal contributor to worsening mental health. The report finds that increases in psychological distress are real rather than primarily artefacts of measurement change, are most pronounced among girls and White British young people, and are likely driven by a combination of factors rather than any single cause.

Secondary analysisSystematic reviewEngland

Employment, skills and economic security

Youth Voice Census Report 2025

Youth Employment UK · 2025

The 2025 Youth Voice Census gathered responses from over 8,200 young people aged 11–30 across the UK, exploring their experiences of wellbeing, education, employment, and life in their local communities. The report finds that young people are increasingly "stuck in the middle" — neither thriving nor failing — with rising anxiety, stagnating life satisfaction, and a growing sense of disengagement. Key concerns include declining access to careers education, work experience, and extracurricular opportunities, alongside persistent inequalities affecting NEET young people, those eligible for free school meals, and those with additional needs. The report calls for five urgent actions from government and employers, including a Young Person's Entitlement, improved employer engagement, and a national digital support hub.

SurveyFocus groupUK-wide

Criminal justice and youth violence

Children, Violence and Vulnerability 2025 — Report 1: The Scale of Violence

Youth Endowment Fund · 2025

This report presents findings from a large-scale annual survey of nearly 11,000 children aged 13–17 in England and Wales about their experiences of violence. It finds that nearly one in five were victims of violence in the past year, one in eight perpetrated violence, and half witnessed it. Most teenage children were exposed to real-world violence on social media, and over four in five had seen online conversations about harming specific groups. The report also highlights the strong overlap between victimisation and perpetration, and the link between weapon-carrying and repeated violent victimisation.

Young people consultedSurveyEnglandWales

Employment, skills and economic security

Youth Voice Census 2025: Greater Manchester Regional Report

Youth Employment UK · 2025

The 2025 Greater Manchester Youth Voice Census gathered views from over 1,600 young people aged 11–30 across all ten boroughs of Greater Manchester on topics including safety, wellbeing, education, employment, digital life and civic participation. Young people in the region feel safer, more included and better prepared for work than in 2024, with belonging and life satisfaction improving. However, progress is uneven: access to careers education and work experience has declined sharply, mental health and financial support remain hard to navigate, and young people with additional needs or from lower-income households face persistent systemic barriers. The report calls for expanded wellbeing support, rebuilt careers education, guaranteed work experience, and stronger youth voice in local decision-making.

SurveyMixed methodsNorth West

Mental health and wellbeing

Children, Violence and Vulnerability 2025 — Report 3: Mental Health

Youth Endowment Fund · 2025

This report from the Youth Endowment Fund presents findings from a survey of nearly 11,000 13–17-year-olds in England and Wales on the links between experiences of violence and mental health. It finds that over a quarter of teenagers have high or very high mental health difficulties, with rates dramatically higher among those involved in serious violence — nearly two-thirds of perpetrators of serious violence had self-harmed or considered suicide. Despite the scale of need, over half of those with a diagnosed mental health condition were receiving no professional support, with many on waiting lists; in the absence of formal help, teenagers — especially those affected by violence — are increasingly turning to online resources including AI chatbots.

Young people consultedSurveyEnglandWales

Employment, skills and economic security

Lost Boys: State of the Nation

Centre for Social Justice · 2025

This state-of-the-nation report from the Centre for Social Justice examines the worsening outcomes for boys and young men across six domains: employment, education, family and fathers, crime, health, and technology/pornography. Key findings include that 15.1% of men aged 16–24 are NEET compared to 11.2% of women, with 550,000 young men NEET — up 150,000 since the pandemic. Boys consistently lag behind girls from early years through university, are overrepresented in the criminal justice system (96% of prisoners are male), face higher rates of suicide, and are disproportionately affected by harmful online content including pornography. The report draws on secondary analysis of government datasets, a call for evidence from charities, focus groups with young men, and organisational visits across the UK.

Focus groupSecondary analysisUK-wide

Gender and sexuality

Girls' Attitudes Survey 2025 - A Girl's World: Sexism, Misogyny and the Power of Sisterhood

Girlguiding / CHILDWISE / People's Postcode Lottery · 2025

This annual survey of over 2,600 girls and young women aged 7–21 across the UK examines their experiences of sexism, misogyny, mental health, and aspirations. Key findings include that 68% of 11–21-year-olds changed their everyday behaviour in the past year to avoid sexual harassment, and that exposure to misogynistic behaviour in schools begins as early as age 7. Girls report growing sadness and loneliness, particularly among younger age groups, while also showing increased ambition and a strong sense of solidarity with one another. The report calls on politicians, schools, and decision-makers to take concrete action to tackle inequality and better protect girls.

Young people consultedSurveyUK-wide

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

Employment, skills and economic security

PwC Youth Employment Index 2025

PwC UK Economics Team · 2025

The 2025 PwC Youth Employment Index finds the UK has fallen to 27th place among OECD economies, marking the steepest decline in the G7, as youth unemployment has risen to 15.3% and economic inactivity among young people has hit a 20-year high of around 3 million. The report finds no statistically significant link between AI adoption and overall youth unemployment, though early warning signs are visible in the IT and business services sectors where entry-level and graduate roles have declined sharply. One in eight young people are now classified as NEET — the highest rate in a decade — and the report estimates that reducing regional disparities in NEET rates could add £13–26 billion to UK GDP. The analysis draws on ONS Labour Force Survey data, OECD statistics, and an econometric model to assess the relative roles of cyclical labour market cooling and AI adoption in driving these trends.

Secondary analysisOtherUK-wide

Mental health and wellbeing

HAY Harrow Summary Report 2025

Young Harrow Foundation · 2025

The HAY Harrow 2025 survey gathered responses from nearly 8,000 young people aged 9–18 across 37 schools and colleges in the London Borough of Harrow, covering mental health, digital wellbeing, safety, physical health, and future aspirations. Most young people reported feeling happy and safe, but significant inequalities were found for vulnerable groups including those with SEND, young carers, asylum seekers, non-binary young people, and those experiencing food insecurity. Economic hardship emerged as a cross-cutting factor linked to poorer outcomes across every theme. The findings are intended to inform targeted service delivery and strategic planning across the borough.

SurveyLondon

Civic participation and youth voice

In Our Own Words: Research Exploring the Needs and Preferences of Young People and Youth Practitioners in England

UK Youth · 2025

This report presents findings from qualitative research commissioned by the National Citizen Service (NCS) and conducted by UK Youth to explore the needs and preferences of young people and youth practitioners across England in relation to youth provision. Key findings include strong support for open-access, centre-based youth provision as a foundation for wellbeing and development; unmet demand for one-to-one mentoring and mental health support; and significant workforce and funding pressures in the sector. The report also examines how digital tools are being used in youth work and highlights the challenges practitioners face in keeping young people safe online, particularly in the context of the 2024 racist riots in England.

InterviewFocus groupEngland

Mental health and wellbeing

National Youth Strategy Research Project: Young Person's Report

Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) · 2025

This report summarises findings from a large-scale consultation with over 14,000 young people aged 10–21 (or up to 25 with SEND) in England, conducted to inform the government's National Youth Strategy. Young people identified five key themes: wellbeing, community, skills and opportunities, safety and security, and youth voice. Top concerns included mental health access, financial insecurity, lack of community spaces, online safety, and feeling unheard in decisions that affect their lives. The report highlights that challenges are interconnected and locally shaped, and calls for greater government investment in mental health services, recreational spaces, and life skills education.

Co-producedSurveyFocus groupEngland

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

Education, learning and attainment

How Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenthood (RSHP) is taught in schools: survey results

Young Scot · 2024

This report presents results from a survey of 321 young people aged 11–25 across Scotland, commissioned by the Scottish Government and conducted by Young Scot and the Scottish Youth Parliament, on how Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenthood (RSHP) education is delivered in schools. The majority of respondents supported the revised RSHP guidance: 71% agreed it would inform young people about online consent, 87% found consent materials clear, and 71% felt guidance on parents' right to withdraw was clear. However, significant uncertainty remained around whether the guidance would reduce homophobic bullying or make RSHP more LGBT inclusive, with many young people noting that school materials alone cannot overcome deep-rooted societal attitudes.

SurveyScotland

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

Education, learning and attainment

Young Persons' Money Index 2023/24

London Foundation for Banking & Finance · 2024

The Young Persons' Money Index 2023/24 surveyed over 2,000 secondary school students aged 15–18 across the UK to track financial education delivery in schools and assess young people's financial capability. Key findings show that while access to financial education has risen to 69% (up from 29% in 2015), anxiety about money has jumped to 81% — one of the highest rates since tracking began. Social media and influencers have overtaken traditional sources as the go-to for self-taught financial knowledge, raising concerns about misinformation, while financial knowledge on key concepts such as APR and credit card interest remains patchy.

SurveyUK-wide

Mental health and wellbeing

KCL Policy Institute: Youth mental health in crisis? Public and generational attitudes in the UK and Australia

The Policy Institute at King's · 2024

This report presents findings from parallel online surveys of adults in the UK and Australia, exploring public and generational attitudes towards youth mental health. It finds that large majorities in both countries believe young people's mental health is worse today than in the past, though nearly two-thirds are sceptical that this reflects genuinely worsening circumstances — attributing it instead to better identification of problems or lower resilience among today's youth. Social media is identified as the most widely cited driver of worsening youth mental health, and policies focused on direct support (more mental health services, anti-bullying measures) are preferred over structural interventions such as tackling racism or housing insecurity.

SurveyUK-wide

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

Results