Children, violence and vulnerability 2026
The fifth annual report from the Youth Endowment Fund exploring young people’s experiences of violence.
Each year, we ask thousands of teenagers across England and Wales about their experiences of violence. This year we’re publishing the findings as a series of themed reports. Each one looks at a different side of how violence shapes children’s lives.
CEO Jeremy Miles, and Youth Advisory Board Members Jess and Elijah discuss the importance of embedding youth voice in our work – and why the importance of understanding children’s experiences of violence.
Report 1: The changing scale of violence
Published 12 November
How many children are affected by violence, and how has that changed? This report looks at which children are most affected, and how many appear to be fixated on violence.
Report 2: Violence on social media
Coming on 18 November
How much violent content are children seeing online, and how are they getting around age checks? This report looks at which children see the most violent content, how this overlaps with real-world violence, and what children think about age restrictions and an under-16 social media ban.
Report 3: Gender-based violence
Coming on 25 November
This report focuses on violence against women and girls. It covers the gendered nature of violence inside and outside relationships, the content children see online about women and girls, the attitudes children hold, and the support given to those who have been abusive.
Report 4: Experiences of care and the youth justice system
Coming in January 2027