Listening in Wigan, youth voice and the National Youth Strategy
Advocating for and working with young people, giving them a platform to speak about their experiences and fostering youth voice, is a key part of AllChild’s work. We need to ensure that young people are brought into the conversations impacting their lives, and that their views, opinions and ideas are heard and enacted upon.
Later on this month, our young people in West London are getting involved in the strategy through a focus group with government officials.
Here is what young people in Wigan have to say:
Community Challenges - What are your biggest worries right now?
Our young people spoke on the impact of littering, anti-social behaviour, and poverty leading them to feel unsafe in their area. Examples of criminal activity, and negative social interactions were raised, and it was clear that this was having a knock-on effect about what the young people felt they were able to access or enjoy in their communities. One concern that was frequently voiced was the lack of youth spaces for young people in their community, especially places they could go after-school. Since 2010, Local Authority expenditure on youth services has fallen 73% in England. Additionally, spending on early intervention has fallen by more than £2bn since 2010 and Per-child spending on prevention services is also down from £379 in 2010/11 to £209 in 2023/24. This is compounded with a lack of regular, and reliable public transport which then alientates the young people who have to travel far to access community opportunities and spaces. One young person told us that the ‘Bus was two hours late and I was home alone for two hours; where I live I don’t want to be home alone.’ Lack of provision or accessibility barriers are preventing young people from feeling that they have dedicated spaces for them.
We asked whether there are any youth clubs and one young person said ‘I don’t know what that is’.
Community Assets
What was repeatedly emphasised by all the young people was how their neighbourhood recreational areas, sports facilities and green spaces were all positive localities in their community and that these places helped them foster strong social bonds. Hanging out with friends, socialising and spending time with their families within their local areas were key answers when speaking about their ‘likes’ in their community. When working with local places, the opportunities and assets are just as important to consider, to see what is working well and how these can be utilised to grow stronger connections.
Strong community assets are crucial levers to help mobilise strong social capital around children and young people. Social capital refers to the social ties, networks and connections formed within and across communities. Strong social connections and trusted relationships help young people to feel heard and that they belong in their communities. Linking families into their neighbourhoods is a key part of the AllChild model. Helping forge relationships between them and their local support services, community assets and social infrastructure is about building a network of support that is sustainable and long-lasting and helps foster trusted relationships and a sense of belonging. As the young people spoke about, the places of social capital, the recreational and leisure activities, the sports opportunities are all key parts of their lives and routines. These are the essential ‘third spaces’ in which young people can grow, socialise and form new skills, and are essential for us to acknowledge.
Community Asks - What are your hopes for the future?
Young people have pride in their local area; one member of staff we spoke to said, ‘I’ve never worked in an area where they’re [students] aren’t proud of where they’re from: there’s a knock-on effect on confidence and aspiration.’ There was a collective sense amongst all our young people that they wanted to see their local community reflecting that sense of pride they all carried about being in Leigh. They want the local environment to be treated well, with more bins, and the prevention of littering in parks (including drug bags and needles). Strengthening communities is about strengthening the bonds between people, and enabling them the spaces to connect and support each other. Young people are voicing how they want to see their community looked-after and able to provide these opportunities for them as well so they can harness the most out of it.
The lack of opportunities for girls to be involved in sports was raised specifically. The most recent #BeeWell Manchester study found that participation in physical activity remains significantly lower for girls than boys, a challenge made harder with the lack of access to fun and free activities especially for girls as they get older. This was reflected in the conversations our young people had, who spoke of wanting more sports opportunities for girls, including football, dance, and netball.
What one thing should the government do to improve things for young people?
Young people are wanting dedicated youth spaces to go to after school. Places they feel safe in and can socialise easily and freely. Last year, Onside’s ‘Generation Isolation’ report found that 21% reported not having a safe place to socialise in and when asked what one thing would improve their lives outside school, 29% said more affordable leisure activities, 24% said more safe and fun places to socialise, and 16% said more opportunities to learn skills outside of school. From our listening workshops we saw these themes come up - young people wanted more safe places, as well as more places to play after school and more parks and play areas/playgrounds with better equipment. One young person spoke about how at night near their house they ‘hear girls and boys shouting, screaming swear words’ and another voiced how they wanted ‘more places to play, especially after school.’ Our young people spoke of wanting more libraries, recreational spaces such as cinemas and spaces, and places that can accommodate younger age groups. The sense of safety in their area is not felt amongst many young people. They witness the poverty, homelessness, abuse, and anti-social behaviour which results in them feeling like they have nowhere safe to go. This must change. Young people need safe spaces, where trusted relationships can be formed and support offered if they need it.
Listening to young people is crucial, and brings to the forefront what their concerns and worries alongside their likes and dislikes are. Policy makers cannot afford to ignore this. We are looking forward to our upcoming focus group and collaborating across and within the sector to ensure that every child and young person has the opportunities they need to flourish.
