A briefing paper quantified the savings made by society as a result of providing specialist interventions for young people at risk of sexual exploitation. An estimated potential saving was identified of £12 during a child victim?s lifetime for every £1 spent.
Source: Reducing the Risk, Cutting the Cost: An assessment of the potential savings from Barnardo?s interventions for young people who have been sexually exploited, Barnardo's
Links: Paper | Barnardos press release
Date: 2011-Dec
A study found that youth homelessness was rising in England, with nearly one-half of homeless services and local councils reporting an increase in young people seeking help. The report highlighted the difficulty that agencies had experienced in responding to this extra demand.
Source: Young & Homeless: A survey of services and local authorities, Homeless Link
Links: Report | Homeless Link press release | Guardian report
Date: 2011-Dec
An article examined how risk had proliferated across a wide range of youth-related fields in England – becoming a social, political, and moral entity in itself rather than a tool for primarily criminological prediction and intervention. This proliferation demanded further empirical study and theoretical scrutiny beyond the criminal justice sphere in which it was often contained.
Source: Gavin Turnbull and Jean Spence, 'What's at risk? The proliferation of risk across child and youth policy in England', Journal of Youth Studies, Volume 14 Number 8
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Dec
Two linked studies examined the relationship between (on the one hand) reported road traffic injuries and exposure to the road environment and (on the other) a range of individual, family, and environmental risk factors in adolescents aged 16. Young people involved in cycle, moped/motorcycle, and car accidents as drivers were more likely to be: male, with traits of hyperactivity and sensation seeking; less likely to use seat belts and cycle helmets; and more likely to be engaged in other risk-taking behaviour with drugs and alcohol.
Source: Alan Emond, Rita Doerner, Julie Mytton, and Elizabeth Towner, Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children: Exposure to Injury Risk in the Road Environment and Reported Road Traffic Injuries in 16-Year-Olds, Department for Transport | Alan Emond, Rita Doerner, Julie Mytton, and Elizabeth Towner, Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children: Longitudinal Analysis of Risk of Injury in the Road Environment in Childhood and Adolescence, Department for Transport
Links: Report 1 | Findings | Report 2
Date: 2011-Nov
The coalition government published an action plan designed to stop the sexual exploitation of children and young people. The issue needed to be a priority for Local Safeguarding Children Boards, who should establish the severity of the problem in their areas, make sure they were tackling it effectively, and put in place robust preventative strategies.
Source: Tackling Child Sexual Exploitation: Action Plan, Department for Education
Links: Action plan | Hansard | DE press release | ACPO press release | NWG press release | OCC press release | BBC report | Community Care report | Guardian report
Date: 2011-Nov
A study examined violence in the intimate relationships of disadvantaged teenagers who were not in mainstream education. Children from disadvantaged backgrounds were much more likely to experience abusive partner relationships than their better-off counterparts. Many of the young people who participated in the study appeared to accept violence as normal, although unwanted, aspect of being in a relationship. More than half of the girls said that they had been in a sexually violent relationship before they were 18.
Source: Marsha Wood, Christine Barter, and David Berridge, ?Standing on My Own Two Feet?: Disadvantaged teenagers, intimate partner violence and coercive control, National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
Links: Report | Bristol University press release | BBC report | Community Care report | Guardian report
Date: 2011-Sep
A project in Scotland found that initiatives focusing on improving the health and well-being of school-aged children and young people (aged 3-18) and their families, particularly at key transition stages, could be implemented within schools without injections of additional funding.
Source: Health and Well-being in Schools Project: Final Report, Scottish Government
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Sep
A new book examined the causes and consequences of adolescent neglect, and considered the implications for policy and practice.
Source: Gwyther Rees, Mike Stein, Leslie Hicks, and Sarah Gorin, Adolescent Neglect: Research, policy and practice, Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Links: Summary
Date: 2011-Aug
A report said that at least 78,000 young people (under the age of 25) experienced homelessness each year – an increase of 5,000 since the previous national estimate published in 2008. It said that no young person should sleep rough for more than one night once in contact with an appropriate statutory or voluntary sector agency; and that young people should not have to stay in emergency accommodation for longer than an agreed specified period.
Source: Deborah Quilgars, Suzanne Fitzpatrick, and Nicholas Pleace, Ending Youth Homelessness: Possibilities, challenges and practical solutions, Centre for Housing Policy (University of York)/School of the Built Environment (Heriot-Watt University)
Links: Report | Summary | Centrepoint press release
Date: 2011-Aug
A paper examined the effect of survey measurement error on the empirical relationship between child mental health and personal and family characteristics, and between child mental health and educational progress. There was a strong tendency for observers to understate the problems of older children and adolescents compared with expert diagnosis.
Source: David Johnston, Carol Propper, Stephen Pudney, and Michael Shields, Child Mental Health and Educational Attainment: Multiple observers and the measurement error problem, Working Paper CWP27/11, Centre for Microdata Methods and Practice
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Jul
A study examined the risks that vulnerable young people, excluded from schools and being taught in pupil referral units, encountered online and through their mobile phones.
Source: Stephen Carrick-Davies, Munch Poke Ping! Vulnerable young people, social media and e-safety, Training and Development Agency
Links: Report | Guardian report
Date: 2011-Jul
A paper examined trends in adolescent health. It looked at the main policy themes of the previous decade, as well as issues for service delivery relating to adolescent health.
Source: John Coleman, Adolescent Health in the UK Today: Where Next?, Association for Young People s Health
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Jun
A report examined evidence relating to 'on street grooming' and child sexual exploitation. Multi-agency work was essential to ensuring that the victim's needs came first, and to tackling this type of crime. All agencies in contact with victims needed to be aware of the early signs and effects of abuse and vulnerability. Victims often feared police and court processes and were intimidated and threatened by offenders: a long-term and co-ordinated approach to supporting them was therefore needed.
Source: Out of Mind, Out of Sight: Breaking down the barriers to understanding child sexual exploitation, Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre
Links: Report | Summary | CEOPC press release | BBC report | Community Care report | Guardian report | Telegraph report
Date: 2011-Jun
An article examined parenting style and youth outcomes. There were 'consistent and strong' associations between parenting style and a wide range of youth outcomes, including subjective well-being and self-esteem, health and risky behaviour, and school results and enrolment.
Source: Tak Wing Chan and Anita Koo, 'Parenting style and youth outcomes in the UK', European Sociological Review, Volume 27 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jun
A report examined the financial and economic circumstances of young people, and the role of behavioural economics in 'nudging' young people towards saving for retirement. It recommended the development and promotion of a savings rule of thumb similar to the '5-a-day' healthy eating message.
Source: Craig Berry, Resuscitating Retirement Saving: How to help today's young people plan for later life, International Longevity Centre – UK
Links: Report | ILC press release | Guardian report | Professional Pensions report
Date: 2011-Jun
A paper examined recent research literature on the move from child and adolescent mental health services to adult services for young people with psychological, emotional, or behavioural problems. Moving between services was difficult for many young people, their parents, and carers. Recurrent problems included limited participation of young people, high eligibility thresholds for entry into adult mental health services, and inconsistent support during transition.
Source: Isabelle Brodie, Rebecca Goldman, and Janet Clapton, Mental Health Service Transitions for Young People, Briefing Paper 37, Social Care Institute for Excellence
Links: Paper | SCIE press release
Date: 2011-May
The government announced that responsibility for commissioning health services in England for children and young people in secure children's homes and secure training centres was to pass to the National Health Service (in line with arrangements for young offender institutions). It said that the change was designed to ensure that those concerned, who often had complex needs, benefited from high-quality healthcare.
Source: Press release 27 May 2011, Department of Health
Links: DH press release
Date: 2011-May
The Court of Appeal ruled that local councils had a legal obligation to provide homeless teenagers with ongoing care and support (such as help with benefits and job applications) beyond simple housing support.
Source: TG, R (on the application of) v London Borough of Lambeth, Court of Appeal 6 May 2011
Links: Judgement | Shelter press release | Inside Housing report
Date: 2011-May
An evidence review examined the extent to which problems faced by young people in England overlapped. It looked at substance misuse, emotional health concerns, teenage parenthood, low attainment, unemployment, and crime.
Source: Matt Barnes, Rosie Green, and Andy Ross, Understanding Vulnerable Young People: Analysis from the Longitudinal Study of Young People in England, Research Report RR118, Department for Education
Links: Report
Date: 2011-May
An article examined whether older and younger people (aged 16 or over) differed in their reported well-being. People aged 65 or over were more likely than younger people to define well-being as being able to continue to do the things that they had always done. Most men and women, in all age groups, rated their well-being and mental well-being positively. Self-rated health, mental health symptoms, long-standing illness, and social support were the main drivers of overall well-being in all age groups.
Source: Ann Bowling, 'Do older and younger people differ in their reported well-being? A national survey of adults in Britain', Family Practice, Volume 28 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Apr
A think-tank report said that girls were significantly more successful than boys in making the transition to adulthood: they did better in their exams, more of them went to university, and those aged 22-29 earned 2.1 per cent more than their male peers. But teenage girls had worse rates of binge drinking and physical inactivity than their male peers; and they had higher rates of teen pregnancy than their European counterparts.
Source: Richard Darlington, Julia Margo, and Sarah Sternberg, with Beatrice Karol Burks, Through the Looking Glass, Demos
Links: Report | Summary | Guardian report | Telegraph report
Date: 2011-Apr
A report examined the opportunities and obstacles facing children and young people growing up in disadvantaged areas, and the struggles of parents to overcome these barriers and build a better future for their families.
Source: Anne Power, Nicola Serle, and Helen Willmot, Obstacles and Opportunities: Today s children, tomorrow s families, CASEreport 66, Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion (London School of Economics)
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Apr
An annual report examined indicators of well-being among children and young people (aged 0-25) in Wales.
Source: 2011 Children and Young People s Wellbeing Monitor for Wales, Welsh Assembly Government | Odette Parry et al., Voices of Children and Young People in Wales Study: A qualitative study of wellbeing among children and young people under 25 years old, Welsh Assembly Government |
Links: Report | Summary | Summary (Welsh) | Qualitative research
Date: 2011-Apr
A report said that local authorities could save millions of pounds if they funded homelessness prevention services such as family mediation within schools and the community, and parenting classes.
Source: Emma Insley, Homelessness Prevention: Can We Afford Not To? – Reconnecting families to prevent youth homelessness, Depaul UK
Links: Report | Depaul UK press release
Date: 2011-Mar
An annual report examined the well-being of children and young people (aged 0-25) in Wales. There were a number of areas where progress had been made – such as infant mortality rates, the number of children being killed by road accidents, and the number of adolescents taking up smoking. But nearly 1 in 3 children in Wales (32 per cent) were living in poverty – unchanged compared with the previous report.
Source: 2011 Children and Young People s Wellbeing Monitor for Wales, Welsh Assembly Government
Links: Report | WAG press release | Action for Children press release
Date: 2011-Mar
An article examined responses to young runaways in Scotland. It highlighted the challenges of defining young runaways and assessing the scale and nature of running away from home and substitute care.
Source: Margaret Malloch and Cheryl Burgess, 'Responding to young runaways: problems of risk and responsibility', Youth Justice, Volume 11 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Mar
An article examined young people's perceptions of eating disorders, the risks and consequences of developing an eating disorder, and the effectiveness of education and prevention programmes.
Source: Julie Dowds, 'What do young people think about eating disorders and prevention programmes? Implications for partnerships between health, education and informal youth agencies', Journal of Public Mental Health, Volume 9 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jan
A briefing paper examined the policy and legal context surrounding children, young people, and homelessness; and the role of the children and young people's voluntary and community sector in tackling it.
Source: Housing and Homelessness, Speaking Out Briefing 24, National Council for Voluntary Youth Services/Children England
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Jan
A report highlighted the plight of children left in the care of a family member when their mother or father was imprisoned. These children were often 'forgotten' by the system, due to inadequate checks. It called for a clear statutory duty to ensure basic checks on where a child might be sleeping on the night their parent was taken into custody.
Source: Protecting the Welfare of Children When a Parent Is Imprisoned, Prison Advice and Care Trust
Links: Report | PACT press release
Date: 2011-Jan
A study examined the maltreatment of young people aged 11-17. The child protection system was not always seen by social care services as the most effective way to meet the needs of young people; and as young people got older they were less likely to receive a child protection response. There was a general lack of services to meet the needs of young people (especially those aged 14-17) who had been maltreated.
Source: Gwyther Rees et al., Safeguarding Young People: Responding to young people aged 11 to 17 who are maltreated, Children's Society
Links: Report | Summary | Community Care report
Date: 2011-Jan
A study reviewed national initiatives that had attempted to address the problems faced by vulnerable young people and to improve young people's life chances.
Source: Janet Walker and Cam Donaldson, Intervening to Improve Outcomes for Vulnerable Young People: A Review of the Evidence, Research Report RR078, Department for Education
Links: Report | Community Care report
Date: 2011-Jan
Researchers examined evidence of what worked in developing and implementing multi-agency co-ordinated transition services for disabled young people and those with complex health needs, and their families.
Source: Patricia Sloper et al., Models of Multi-Agency Services for Transition to Adult Services for Disabled Young People and Those with Complex Health Needs: Impact and costs, Social Policy Research Unit (University of York)
Date: 2011-Jan
A report examined the state of girls' and women's mental health. Of those surveyed, more than 3 in 5 (63 per cent) felt that low-level mental health problems – depression, stress, and low self-esteem – had had a negative effect on their lives. Women with mental health problems were frequently not getting the right kind of help: 29 per cent had never sought professional help, and 63 per cent felt that doctors were too ready to prescribe drugs to treat low-level mental health problems.
Source: Women Like Me: Supporting wellbeing in girls and women, Platform 51 (formerly Young Women's Christian Association)
Links: Report | Platform 51 press release | Telegraph report | Guardian report
Date: 2011-Jan