A majority of young people want to influence
Government decisions on social justice issues such
as racism and opportunities for women but many also
want to see more social control such as restriction
on immigration and more punishment for young
offenders. Fewer than half trust the Government to
make laws that ensure people are treated fairly.
These findings are from a new study on citizenship
by the Nestlé Social Research Programme, with
fieldwork amongst 11-21 year olds carried out by
MORI. The study shows their view of good citizenship
is far broader than ‘voting’, with taking part in
activities to benefit the community and the
environment, and obeying the law ranking higher in
importance.
Priorities for influencing Government
When asked on what kind of things they would like
to influence the Government, social issues came high
- such as healthcare (83%), better facilities for
young people (80%), controlling crime (79%), racism
(76%), drugs and young people (76%), the environment
(73%), opportunities for women (68%) and controlling
numbers of immigrants to Britain (64%).
National sovereignty also featured strongly with
over half wanting to influence Government decisions
on the effect of the USA on British politics (57%)
and of the European Parliament on British law (55%).
Only 15% agreed that we should use euros rather than
pounds as our currency, with 64% disagreeing.
Less than half (48%) trust the Government to make
laws that ensure that people are treated fairly
whatever their background.
Social control
Responding to a question about contemporary
social and political issues, the young people
demonstrated a tendency towards greater social
control with 51% agreeing that there should be more
control of the Internet and 53% more punishment for
young offenders. These findings contrast with fewer
than two in five who would like to influence
Government decisions about violence on television
(38%). Their views on the legalisation of 24-hour
pub opening are mixed with 37% disagreeing and 33%
agreeing that this should happen.
Being a good citizen
Young people do not see voting in elections as
the most important aspect of being a ‘good citizen’.
It comes fourth (at 67%), after obeying the law
(90%), taking part in activities to benefit the
community (73%), and in activities to protect the
environment (69%).
Their broad view of good citizenship is reflected
in action. 64% gave money for the tsunami appeal,
almost half had taken part in a sponsored event in
the last two years (46%) and nearly the same number
(47%) are likely to work with an organisation or
charity to help people in need in the future. More
than a quarter (27%) had helped to organise a
charity event or activity.
Many want to make their voices heard, with 35%
having signed a petition in the last two years and
nearly six in ten expecting to do so in future.
Seven percent demonstrated against the Iraq war.
Around seven in ten expect to vote ‘in the
future’ in a general (72%) or a local (69%)
election. However, when they were asked how likely,
if they were old enough, they would be to vote in
the ‘next election’ only 23% of the sample as a
whole were ‘absolutely certain’ to vote and a
further 20% are ‘very likely’.
Those who say they are likely to vote in the
immediate future are also more likely to take part
in other civic activities, and they report being
more upset by events in the news than the less
likely to vote.
A quarter of young people, however, have taken
part in no civic activities and have little
expectation of doing so in future.
Girls and young women are more upset by what is
happening in the news and are more likely to help
people in need in their community and to sign
petitions than are boys and young men. They also
more strongly want to influence the Government on
issues around health, providing better facilities
for young people, drugs and young people, racism,
opportunities for women and animal experiments.
Those who are currently more active, and who are
likely to be in the future, are more likely to live
in a community where there is a lot going on for
young people, and to have helped in community
organisations. They are also more likely to have
experience in school of being involved in
decision-making about rules and policy and being
encouraged to make up their own minds.
Party support
Taking the sample as a whole, when asked who they
would vote for, the Labour Party was the most
popular, with 19% support, followed by 15% for
Liberal Democrats, 12% for Conservatives, 5% for BNP
and 3% for the Greens. But amongst those aged 18 and
over and thus eligible to vote, the picture was
dramatically different, with the Liberal Democrats
first with 23% support and Labour and Conservative
running nearly equal at 12% and 13% respectively.
The Research Director of the Nestlé Social
Research Programme, Professor Helen Haste, says:
“These findings show us that worrying about why
young people don’t vote is only a part of the story.
Many are actively helping their community and are
vociferous in making their views heard. Taking a
broader view of citizenship gives us a richer
picture and more scope for encouraging young people
to become involved. Too many are inactive, however,
and the findings tell us that community experience,
as well as a democratic school climate, can do
much.”
The study was conducted by the Nestlé Social
Research Programme in collaboration with the
Economic and Social Research Council.
Ends
For
further information please contact:
Penny Clifton/Kelly McMorran
Nestlé Social Research
Programme Secretariat
Tel: 020 7388 9988
Email:
nsrp@spreckley.co.uk
Web:
www.spreckley.co.uk/nestle
NOTES TO EDITORS
Technical Note
– A sample of 897 young people aged 11 – 21 years
old were interviewed across Great Britain between
9th March and 6th May 2005. 532 interviews were
conducted with school and college pupils (aged
11-18), 86 with university students (up to the age
of 21), and 279 with those no longer in full time
education (16-21 years). Interviews among school and
college pupils were conducted in 30 schools, on
paper during self completion sessions. Interviews
with university students and others not studying
were conducted via two methods. 180 interviews were
conducted via an on-line self completion
questionnaire and 185 were postal self completion
paper questionnaires distributed via the MORI
omnibus. Data were weighted to the known population
of this audience.
The Nestlé Social
Research Programme, which is supported by the
Nestlé Trust, is a programme of independent social
research that will over time build up a picture of
the health, lifestyle and aspirations of the
nation’s young people. It is hoped that the findings
of NSRP studies will contribute to the public policy
agenda.
The ESRC is the
UK's largest funding agency for research and
postgraduate training relating to social and
economic issues. It provides independent, high
quality, relevant research to business, the public
sector and Government. The ESRC invests more than
£123million every year in social science and at any
time is supporting some 2,000 researchers in
academic institutions and research policy
institutes. It also funds postgraduate training
within the social sciences to nurture the
researchers of tomorrow.
More at
http://www.esrcsocietytoday.ac.uk
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