From Big Cuts to Big Society: The Voices of Young People Should be Heard
Big Society is a heated topic in politics, almost like the buzz around the latest trends. But while politicians debate young people’s role in the Big Society, what do 16-25 year olds think about the government’s big idea? To address this, we collaborated with partners and surveyed 1000 young individuals, revealing some intriguing insights.
Three-quarters of young people aged 16-25 have heard about the Big Society. This isn’t surprising, given it’s the government’s flagship social action policy still making headlines.
“‘Big Society’ seems to value young people and their role in it, encouraging community engagement and a positive local impact.”
However, 53% of young people are unsure about what the government expects from them in realizing the Big Society. This uncertainty suggests that young people already feel left behind.
“If this scheme involves young people, shouldn’t we have a say in what we want done? Rather than have it dictated to us.”
Despite the current low levels of understanding, there’s evident enthusiasm among young people to learn more about their potential role. 65% of respondents expressed interest in understanding the Big Society’s goals and how they can get involved. This presents a fantastic opportunity for the government to engage with young volunteers.
Before the budget cuts, we asked young people for their views, and only 1 in 10 reported being asked for their opinions. Unsurprisingly, 82% felt they had no influence over government spending plans. With priorities like job creation and affordable education, sustaining young people’s goodwill remains uncertain.
The latest budget announcements significantly impact young people. There are reductions in education entitlements, limits on Education Maintenance Allowance, and reduced university funding. The ongoing changes led many to feel isolated and unsupported.
Young people are also affected by reforms to the benefits system, strains on affordable housing, and an unstable job market that has already displaced many young individuals. With limited discussion on the government’s youth policy, it’s clear more work is needed to make young people feel heard. Pre-spending review, 43% believed the government valued young people, but 41% disagreed.
“I feel the government likes to hear what younger people think but they do not always put it into practice.”
If dialogue, not monologue, is needed, then the coalition government must initiate genuine conversations with young people about their role in the Big Society. Encouraging young people to shape the society of the future secures their time, energy, and talents.
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