Published -
November 13, 2023 Sections
This is the YEF’s second annual Children, Violence and Vulnerability report (see the 2022 version). It includes survey responses from over 7,500 teenage children aged 13-17 in England and Wales about their experiences in the past 12-months. This builds on last year’s survey of 2,000 children. We’ve used the same online panel provider (Walr) that we used last year.
We’ve also surveyed an additional group of 3,000 adults, to get their views on young people’s experiences of violence.
Summary
Our nationally representative survey found that:
- 16% of teenage children had been a victim of violence in the last 12 months
- 47% of teens had been a victim or witness of violence in the last 12 months
- 68% of children that were victims said they’d experienced violence that led to physical injuries
- 60% of children saw real-world acts of violence on social media, increasing to over 85% of children most at risk of involvement with violence. 29% had seen content relating to weapons.
- 47% of children reported that violence and the fear of violence impacted their day-to-day lives
- 20% of children (1 in 5) said they’d skipped school due to feeling unsafe.
- Victimisation rates were 31% among those now using foodbanks
- 62% of children thought that drugs were a major factor and half thought gangs were – the two highest drivers.