Respect? campaign press release
The voice behind the hood. Young people call for an end to negative representation.
London, Tuesday 18th July 2006: A new report released today by online charity YouthNet and the British Youth Council (BYC), shows the shocking extent to which young people feel they are negatively portrayed and viewed in today's society.
The unique report, which is to be debated today in a seminar attended by young people, parliamentarians and journalists, gives the unaltered views of young people on subjects ranging from politicians and the media, to how they really feel about anti-social behaviour and those who engage in it.
Mohammed (19), from YouthNet and BYC's Young People's Advisory Group, says:
"This report shows just how strongly we as young people feel about the way we are viewed in today's society. We actively consume the news in this country and yet have little voice in it, so it isn't surprising that such a large percentage of us feel we are constantly misrepresented as being anti-social.
"Negative comments from politicians and continual scare stories in the media lead to a real lack of respect for young people and greatly affect our relationships with older generations."
Katie (17), also from the Young People's Advisory Group, says:
"Results from this research show that most young people feel as strongly about anti-social behaviour as older people and we do not want to be judged solely on the actions of a few troublemaking individuals. What we want is more of the positive things that we do to be celebrated and our views included in public debates.
"We do have a voice, and it's time for people to listen."
Headline findings:
- 90% of young people denounce anti-social activities and the majority accept that swearing, arguing and loud music can be anti-social.
- 98% of young people feel the media always, often or sometimes represents them as anti-social.
- 75% of young people lose respect for politicians when they say negative things about young people.
- Over 80% of young people believe the way they are portrayed leads to older people respecting them less.
Key Recommendations:
- Politicians – Take more time to engage young people in discussions, by visiting schools and holding youth surgeries.
- Journalists – Try to balance negative stories with more positive ones and include young people's comments in more articles.
- Public sector – Create more opportunities for young people to interact with older generations.
At today's seminar, young people from the Advisory Group will discuss the concerns highlighted in the report and hear responses from Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children, Young People and Families, Parmjit Dhanda MP, and Libby Brooks, author of The story of childhood: growing up in modern Britain and the Guardian newspapers Deputy Comment Editor.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children, Young People and Families, Parmjit Dhanda MP, says:
"I am very pleased to be here today to listen to the findings of this research. The issue of how we create more of a sense of mutual respect in communities is at the heart of the Government's Respect agenda and I welcome this opportunity to hear ideas and views from young people. It's really important to acknowledge that anti-social behaviour is not just committed by young people and I am looking forward to talking to the young people's Respect Advisory Group today about what more we could do to celebrate the positive behaviour of the majority of young people.''The launch of this report and today's seminar are the first stages in the new Respect campaign; a joint venture between YouthNet and the BYC aimed at putting young people's voices at the heart of a debate that appears to be all about them, yet currently lacks their view.
YouthNet and BYC's report can be downloaded here: The voice behind the hood: young people's views on anti-social behaviour, the media and older people.
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Members of the Young People's Advisory Group (aged 16 – 24) are available for interview along with senior representatives of YouthNet and the BYC.
For further information or to organise an interview, please contact:
Sam Michaelides: 020 7288 6995 / 07900 980415
Lucja Wisniewska: 020 7288 7309 / 07930 929492
Frank Sooden: 020 7288 7331
Email: media@youthnet.org
Notes to editors
1. The study was completed by 1030 people, of which 747 were aged between 12 and 24.
2. YouthNet is a online charity - founded by broadcaster Martyn Lewis in 1995 – which exists to create a socially inclusive environment where all young adults are engaged, informed and inspired to achieve their ambitions and dreams. We actively listen to young people, empower them to speak out and work with them to take action on the issues that they say affect them. We aim to inspire young people, earn their trust and respect and support them with empathy as they seek out their place in the world.
3. YouthNet achieves its vision through two websites; www.do-it.org.uk - volunteering is made easy; and www.TheSite.org - the first-stop-shop of advice and support for 16-24 year-olds.
4. The British Youth Council (BYC) is the national youth council for young people under the age of 26 in the UK. BYC brings young people together to agree on issues of common concern and encourages them to bring about change through collective action. BYC aims to: provide a voice for young people; promote equality for young people; help young people be more involved in decisions that affect their lives and advance young people's participation in society and civic life.