News and opinion

As a youth worker I used to regularly deliver workshops using UK rap and drill music to engage with young people at risk of exclusion and violence. This ranged from printing out lyrics to dissect with groups of secondary school students, to holding recording studio sessions in youth clubs, to chairing philosophical debates and sparking…

The impact of violence on young people   Violence and the fear of violence has both physical and emotional impacts on children and young people, perhaps more acutely than many of us realise.  67% of teenage children are concerned about becoming victims of violence and 22% say that the anxiety has taken a toll on their…

On Adolescence  Over the weekend, without taking a break, I watched all four episodes of Adolescence, Stephen Graham’s Netflix mini-series about the arrest of a 13-year-old schoolboy for murdering one of his classmates and its impact on his life, family and community.   I was gripped, partially because it is a rare thing for British television…

Employment and access to workplace skills are vital for young people, offering more than just financial independence. They provide a sense of purpose, structure, and an opportunity to develop essential life skills. Engaging in meaningful work enables young individuals to cultivate communication, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities, which are crucial for personal development and future career…

The start of 2025 has seen fatal stabbings of young people making headlines across the country. Every child’s life lost is devastating to families and communities. While it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the scale of the problem, it’s crucial to remember that there are concrete actions we can take to address this crisis; and…

Four months after the ban on so-called “zombie knives,” our Youth Advisory Board (YAB) argues that while the ban is a step in the right direction, more comprehensive action is needed to effectively tackle knife crime. The 2016 ban on zombie knives was hampered by a loophole, allowing retailers to circumvent restrictions by simply removing…

This week the Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) published the final Children, Violence and Vulnerability (CVV) report from 2024. The survey asked more than 10,000 teenagers across England and Wales about their perceptions and experiences of violence, making it the largest of its kind ever completed. It helps us to understand the national picture of how…