Young Londoners Survey 2009

In spring 2009, ICM conducted a survey of young Londoners aged 11-16 years on behalf of the Greater London Authority. The results paint a largely positive picture of young people’s lives in London, yet also highlighted a number of significant challenges to be addressed.

The report covers young people’s views on key themes such as education, crime and safety, civic involvement, transport and the environment, and their attitudes to key mayoral policies.

You can view highlights of each chapter by clicking on the links below or you can download the full report

Young people’s view of life in London in 2009
What type of things did we ask?
London as a place to live
Things to do
Active and engaged
Influencing decisions
Feeling safe
Crime and feeling safer
London’s environment
Improving the environment
The 2012 Games
Getting around
Health and exercise
Education, skills & employment
London Governance

Young people’s view of life in London in 2009

A representative sample of 1,025 young Londoners aged 11-16 took part in interviews between March and April 2009

Why was the survey done?

to help us understand where we can best offer our support to young people
to see how things have changed since similar research from 2004
to set ‘benchmarks’ that we can measure progress against in the future.

What type of things did we ask?

What are the best things about London?
What needs improving?
Are there lots of things to do?
Do young people feel safe?
How do they get around?
What are their environmental concerns?
What do young people think about schools?
Does everyone have equal opportunities?

To the top

London as a place to live

Young Londoners are happy with where they live - 85% of are satisfied with their neighbourhood, 84% with London as a whole.

Young people enjoy diversity - 37% named the ‘mix of people that live here’ as the ‘best thing’ about London, second only to the ‘range of shops’.

Safety is a big concern - 39% named ‘safety and policing’ as the ‘worst thing’ about London.

Things to do

Many young Londoners are involved in activities that could help their education, develop life skills, or keep them fit and healthy:

80% regularly play sport.
76% regularly go to open spaces.
74% regularly read books.
64% regularly do educational activities.
40% regularly attend youth clubs.
37% regularly go to cultural events.
21% regularly attend uniformed activities.
19% regularly volunteer.

Active and engaged

Young Londoners are getting involved:

55% have taken part in at least one activity to influence a change in their area.

More should be done to engage young people:

51% of those that haven’t taken part say it’s because no one has asked them.
Only 7% that haven’t taken part say it’s because it wouldn’t make a difference.

To the top

Influencing decisions

In general young Londoners feel they can influence decisions in their schools, but not in their neighbourhoods or London.

67% feel they can influence school decisions (10% more than in 2004)
31% feel they can influence neighbourhood decisions
16% feel they can influence London’s decisions.

Feeling safe

83% of young Londoners feel safe in their neighbourhood – up from 77% in 2004.

Young Londoners biggest fears are violent crime, and themselves:

27% feel unsafe because of knife crime
22% feel unsafe because of mugging
22% feel unsafe due to teenagers hanging round.

Crime and feeling safer

A minority, but significant number, report having been victim to violent crime:

1% (or 5,000) report being a victim of knife crime.
5% (or 25,000) report being a victim of mugging.

39% of young Londoners said ‘more police’ would make them feel safer - the top answer.
This fits with young Londoners saying that ‘safety and policing’ is the ‘worst thing’ about London.

To the top

London’s environment

Young people think environmental issues are less of a problem now than they were in 2004, but concern is still very high:

Around 8 out of 10 saw climate change, traffic pollution and litter as a problem.
Around 7 out of 10 saw pollution of waterways, air pollution and loss of plants and wildlife as a problem.

Improving the environment

Preserving parks and green spaces is the No 1 priority for improving London’s environment:

32% mentioned this as their priority.

Waste and air quality were also a high priority:

28% mentioned reducing dumped waste
25% mentioned reducing litter
26% mentioned improving air quality
24% mentioned cutting pollution from traffic.

The 2012 Games

Young people are really positive about the 2012 Games

84% think it will be good for London.

Young people think the Games will be good for them in the long-term.

43% think it will mean more children participate in sport
25% think it will mean better leisure facilities.

To the top

Getting around

Buses are overwhelmingly young Londoners’ main form of public transport:

64% use them every day, or every other day.

The Zip Card (which gives free bus fares to under-16s, and some under-18s) is not discouraging young Londoners from walking to school:

38% regularly walk to school – the same number as in 2004.

Health and exercise

On average young people say they exercise four times a week both in school and out of school.

Young people’s really positive perception of their health does not match up with the reality:

96% think their health is good or very good. None think they have bad health.
However, other research shows, for example, that some 20% of young Londoners are obese.

Education, skills & employment

Young people are feeling more positive about the quality of their schools, but truancy is still seen as a problem:

94% say their school is good or very good
37% report truancy as a problem.

London provides opportunities, even in tough times:

70% of young Londoners are confident, even now, that London can provide the job opportunities they want.

To the top

London Governance

52% of young Londoners can name the Mayor of London correctly (Boris Johnson!)
44% think they know a little about what the Mayor is doing, only 6% said they know a lot
38% said they were satisfied with the Mayor, only 4% were dissatisfied and 35% said they didn’t know.

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		Young Londoners Survey 2009 In spring 2009, ICM conducted a survey of young Londoners aged 11-16 years on behalf of the Greater London Authority. The results paint a largely positive picture of young people’s lives in London, yet also highlighted a number of significant challenges to be addressed. The report covers young people’s views on key themes such as education, crime and safety, civic involvement, transport and the environment, and their attitudes to key mayoral policies. You can view highlights of each chapter by clicking on the links below or you can download the full report Young people’s view of life in London in 2009 What type of things did we ask? London as a place to live Things to do Active and engaged Influencing decisions Feeling safe Crime and feeling safer London’s environment Improving the environment The 2012 Games Getting around Health and exercise Education, skills & employment London Governance Young people’s view of life in London in 2009 A representative sample of 1,025 young Londoners aged 11-16 took part in interviews between March and April 2009 Why was the survey done? to help us understand where we can best offer our support to young people to see how things have changed since similar research from 2004 to set ‘benchmarks’ that we can measure progress against in the future. What type of things did we ask? What are the best things about London? What needs improving? Are there lots of things to do? Do young people feel safe? How do they get around? What are their environmental concerns? What do young people think about schools? Does everyone have equal opportunities? To the top London as a place to live Young Londoners are happy with where they live - 85% of are satisfied with their neighbourhood, 84% with London as a whole. Young people enjoy diversity - 37% named the ‘mix of people that live here’ as the ‘best thing’ about London, second only to the ‘range of shops’. Safety is a big concern - 39% named ‘safety and policing’ as the ‘worst thing’ about London. Things to do Many young Londoners are involved in activities that could help their education, develop life skills, or keep them fit and healthy: 80% regularly play sport. 76% regularly go to open spaces. 74% regularly read books. 64% regularly do educational activities. 40% regularly attend youth clubs. 37% regularly go to cultural events. 21% regularly attend uniformed activities. 19% regularly volunteer. Active and engaged Young Londoners are getting involved: 55% have taken part in at least one activity to influence a change in their area. More should be done to engage young people: 51% of those that haven’t taken part say it’s because no one has asked them. Only 7% that haven’t taken part say it’s because it wouldn’t make a difference. To the top Influencing decisions In general young Londoners feel they can influence decisions in their schools, but not in their neighbourhoods or London. 67% feel they can influence school decisions (10% more than in 2004) 31% feel they can influence neighbourhood decisions 16% feel they can influence London’s decisions. Feeling safe 83% of young Londoners feel safe in their neighbourhood – up from 77% in 2004. Young Londoners biggest fears are violent crime, and themselves: 27% feel unsafe because of knife crime 22% feel unsafe because of mugging 22% feel unsafe due to teenagers hanging round. Crime and feeling safer A minority, but significant number, report having been victim to violent crime: 1% (or 5,000) report being a victim of knife crime. 5% (or 25,000) report being a victim of mugging. 39% of young Londoners said ‘more police’ would make them feel safer - the top answer. This fits with young Londoners saying that ‘safety and policing’ is the ‘worst thing’ about London. To the top London’s environment Young people think environmental issues are less of a problem now than they were in 2004, but concern is still very high: Around 8 out of 10 saw climate change, traffic pollution and litter as a problem. Around 7 out of 10 saw pollution of waterways, air pollution and loss of plants and wildlife as a problem. Improving the environment Preserving parks and green spaces is the No 1 priority for improving London’s environment: 32% mentioned this as their priority. Waste and air quality were also a high priority: 28% mentioned reducing dumped waste 25% mentioned reducing litter 26% mentioned improving air quality 24% mentioned cutting pollution from traffic. The 2012 Games Young people are really positive about the 2012 Games 84% think it will be good for London. Young people think the Games will be good for them in the long-term. 43% think it will mean more children participate in sport 25% think it will mean better leisure facilities. To the top Getting around Buses are overwhelmingly young Londoners’ main form of public transport: 64% use them every day, or every other day. The Zip Card (which gives free bus fares to under-16s, and some under-18s) is not discouraging young Londoners from walking to school: 38% regularly walk to school – the same number as in 2004. Health and exercise On average young people say they exercise four times a week both in school and out of school. Young people’s really positive perception of their health does not match up with the reality: 96% think their health is good or very good. None think they have bad health. However, other research shows, for example, that some 20% of young Londoners are obese. Education, skills & employment Young people are feeling more positive about the quality of their schools, but truancy is still seen as a problem: 94% say their school is good or very good 37% report truancy as a problem. London provides opportunities, even in tough times: 70% of young Londoners are confident, even now, that London can provide the job opportunities they want. To the top London Governance 52% of young Londoners can name the Mayor of London correctly (Boris Johnson!) 44% think they know a little about what the Mayor is doing, only 6% said they know a lot 38% said they were satisfied with the Mayor, only 4% were dissatisfied and 35% said they didn’t know. Go to top of page		Get involved Have your say about London

Young Londoners Survey 2009

Young people’s view of life in London in 2009

What type of things did we ask?

London as a place to live

Things to do

Active and engaged

Influencing decisions

Feeling safe

Crime and feeling safer

London’s environment

Improving the environment

The 2012 Games

Getting around

Health and exercise

Education, skills & employment

London Governance

Get involved