YEF’s third annual report into young people’s experiences of violence.

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• 20% of teenage children have been victims of violence in the past 12 months
• 5% report carrying a weapon
• Only 12% of children involved in serious violence receive support to prevent future harm

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Amid the everyday pressures of adolescence — school, friendships and self-discovery — many teenagers are also having to navigate a more troubling issue: violence.

A new survey of 10,000 children aged 13 to 17 in England and Wales reveals that 67% are worried about becoming victims of violence, adding to the anxieties they face during this pivotal stage of life.

Commissioned by the Youth Endowment Fund (YEF), a government-backed charity working to prevent violence, its latest report Children, Violence and Vulnerability offers the most comprehensive analysis of violence affecting children in England and Wales.

1 in 10 teens injured by violence

This year, 20% of teenage children reported being victims of violence in the past 12 months, with over half of these incidents resulting in physical injury. This translates to 440,000 children across England and Wales. Physical assault was the most common form of violence experienced (reported by 9% of all 13 to 17-year-olds), followed by theft (6%), sexual assault (6%) and weapon-related incidents (5%).

For many, fear of violence is now influencing their daily decisions. One-third of teenage children (33%) avoid certain areas and 27% alter their travel routes or avoid public transport to stay safe. Additionally, 22% report mental health challenges – such as difficulties sleeping, reduced appetite and trouble concentrating in school – directly tied to their fears.

Vulnerable children face greater risks

The report shows that teenage children with additional needs are disproportionately affected by violence. For example, 31% of teenage children with special educational needs admitted to committing violent acts, compared to 10% of their peers without additional needs.

Children at risk of exploitation are also highly vulnerable. Those who go missing from home are five times more likely to be involved in violence, while those targeted for transporting drugs or weapons are six times more likely. Similarly, 32% of persistently absent teenage children admitted to violent behaviour, compared to 16% of the overall teenage population.

Weapon carrying is most common among vulnerable groups

Weapon carrying is a serious concern, especially among vulnerable groups. While 5% of all 13 to 17-year-olds in England and Wales reported carrying a weapon in the past year, this number jumps to 12% among those with special educational needs, 13% for persistently absent children, 22% for those supported by a social worker, 21% for those suspended from school and 36% for children who have been excluded from school. Weapon-carrying rates are also significantly higher among those involved in ‘gangs’ (44%) and children targeted for criminal exploitation (35%).

Nearly half (47%) of those who carry weapons do so for protection, while 37% said they were asked to carry one by someone else. Others cite different reasons: 31% admit to doing it to scare others and 18% because their peers did it too.

Opportunities missed

The YEF’s new report highlights how opportunities to steer children away from violence are frequently missed.

In 93% of cases where teenage children repeatedly harm others, adults intervene with punishments such as school discipline or police involvement. However, only 12% of these children are offered support aimed at addressing the root causes of violence and preventing further harm.

This sharp disparity reveals a crucial gap in addressing the underlying causes of violence. It reinforces the need for earlier interventions that support children to change their behaviour and reduce future harm.

What works to prevent violence

The YEF Toolkit identifies several effective interventions for reducing violence, including focused deterrence, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), trauma-informed therapies, sports programmes, social skills training and mentoring.

For example, reviews of international research suggest that CBT can reduce involvement in crime by up to 27%. Mentoring programmes, which provide children with support and guidance from trusted adults, reduce violence by an average of 21%.

A call for change

Jon Yates, CEO of the Youth Endowment Fund, comments: “Too many young lives are lost or scarred by violence. It is not ok that almost 9 out of 10 children who commit violent acts get no support at all. We must do better at spotting which children need help and providing them with evidence-based support to change things and save lives.”

CASE STUDY 1: Prince Sithole (17), YEF Youth Advisory Board member, said:

“After losing my brother to youth violence, we were left shattered, unsure of how to pick up the pieces. Our mental health crumbled, especially mine; I was consumed by anger and confusion, questioning why this tragedy struck those we hold dear. The sadness of knowing I will never see him again is unbearable. I will always love and care for him, yet he’s gone, taken too soon.

“Youth violence needs to end, or we risk losing more precious souls. It’s heartbreaking to think he had dreams and a future, but now they are lost forever. The haunting question that lingers in my mind is WHY? Why does youth violence tear apart our lives? Why must it claim the ones we cherish? Why do we allow it to continue?”

CASE STUDY 2: Pascal Pelosi-Campbell (22), YEF Youth Advisory Board member, said: “Growing up, I witnessed a lot of youth violence over the years as well as countered and spoke to those who are involved and victims of it. Speaking to those individuals made me realise how let down those who were affected are and how more of a focus there is to punish these young people than there is to help them.

“Growing up in the environment I did, you either witness, hear about or encounter so much violence, unless it directly affects you, you almost become desensitised to it. If you were to ask me what would be the solution to serious youth violence, I would go back to the saying: ‘Prevention is better than cure’. In other words, if there were more focus and funding towards initiatives both in and out of school that focus on supporting high-risk and vulnerable young people – who are the ones who tend to be the most affected by serious youth violence – then you would see a massive reduction.

“Through my work in peer field research, I have both seen the positive effects of intervention and support schemes and have spoken to dozens of young people who have felt the impact of positive youth initiatives. More work and focus need to be done on supporting those who are affected by serious youth violence instead of demonising and ostracising them through excessive punishment and poor media coverage.”

The findings in this release are drawn from Who is affected by violence?, the first in the Youth Endowment Fund’s annual Children, Violence and Vulnerability report series. The remaining four reports will be released over the next three weeks.