Young People’s Postcard Analysis
The Government’s consultation for developing a National Strategy for all
children and young people was supported by a postcard campaign that invited
you to comment on what you would change if you were Prime Minister for the
day. This part of the report shows the findings of your postcards responses.
Over 750 of you (aged between 13 and 19) provided responses to the
postcard campaign. Your responses have been categorised into the following
topics:
Health and Well being
This category includes information about
improving your mental and physical health;
nutrition; dental health; sexual health;
personal health (injuries/accidents) and
behaviour (e.g. smoking, alcohol, substance
abuse)
Achievement and Enjoyment
This category includes information about
improving your educational attainment; first
employment and employability; engagement
in the arts music, sport and wider leisure
activities; access to popular play and leisure
facilities and engagement in community and
voluntary activities
Participation and Citizenship
This category includes information about
improving your involvement in the local
community, helping you understand your
role and importance in society and your
engagement in the local and national
democratic process.
Protection
This category includes information about
being brought up in a safe environment
where you are free from violence, abuse
and harassment at home, at school and in
the community.
Responsibility
This category includes information about
growing up as responsible citizens. This
means that the services you may use also
have a responsibility for ensuring that the
service you receive is supportive and takes
into account individual circumstances.
Inclusion
This category includes information about
discrimination that you experience (e.g.
according to your background - gender,
race/ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation,
special educational needs size/age - or by
circumstance - for those in public care, or in
poverty)
The table below shows the number of completed postcards that fell into one of
the six categories above
Categories of postcards
number of postcards
600
500
400
300
Achievement &
Enjoyment
Health & Well-being
Protection
Participation &
Citizenship
Inclusion
200
100
0
Responsibility
Unreadable/blank
Overall, the category that you thought was the most important was
‘Achievement & Enjoyment’. Over 500 of you sent in completed postcards
with suggestions that came into this category.
The charts below show what kind of different issues you all brought up under
each of the categories. We’ve also included some of the things that you had
to say about these issues.
Achievement and Enjoyment:
502 of you completed postcards with suggestions that came under this
category. Because you all had so many suggestions around ‘Achievement &
Enjoyment’ we have broken this category down into two separate sections –
achievement (education) and enjoyment (leisure)
The first chart below outlines your thoughts and comments on ‘Achievement’.
Achievement
School facilities
School hours/weeks
4%
3%
16%
3%
Curriculum
4%
Homework
Uniform
16%
Further Education /
Higher Education
School dinners
Teachers
Types of schools
24%
7%
5%
18%
School discipline
And here’s what some of you said about ‘Achievement’:
“I would want there to be more school time e.g. 1/2 hours after normal school
time. It would be a great help to people who need education. Not many
people would agree with me but I'm serious, it would be absolutely brilliant”
(13 year old)
“Get the schools to spend more money on better resources for students so we
could learn more!” (15 year old)
“Reinstate student grants. This essential degree of financial assistance,
ensures my credit and future existence” (15 year old)
“I think that children should be able to chose what lessons they want to be
taught because kids are naughty for teacher is lessons they don’t like” (13
year old)
The chart below outlines your thoughts and comments on ‘Enjoyment’.
Skate parks
Enjoyment
Parks/Green spaces
8%
Youth clubs
28%
13%
Sport centres
3%
Summer holiday activities
11%
37%
Entertainment Facilities
(cinemas, bowling alleys,
etc.)
And here’s what some of you said about ‘Enjoyment’:
“Young people need places to go in the evenings, at weekends and in the
school holidays”. (13 year old)
“I reckon they should make cleaner parks and clubs for kids and better leisure
centres and nurseries”. (15 year old)
“More skate parks that are safe as we skate boarders have no where to go”
(15 year old)
“Arrange more sports activities so young people would be more active instead
of committing crime.” (14 year old)
“I would get the prime minister to have more schemes for the six weeks
holidays” (13 year old)
Health & Well-being:
82 of you completed postcards with suggestions that came under this
category. The chart below outlines your thoughts and comments on ‘Health &
Well-being’.
Health & Well-Being
10%
2%
2%
29%
Smoking/Drugs/Alcohol
Support/advice centres
Environment
15%
Hospitals
Disabilities
Improved public toilets
Sex Education / attitudes
Nutrition
9%
17%
16%
And here’s what some of you said about ‘Health & Well-being’:
“More protection against drugs so that more children can grow up in a better
world” (13 year old)
“I would get the government to wire a set of specialized counsellors who you
can really talk 2 anytime even if you get upset in a lesson and swear at a
teacher you can just go and talk, or u r being bullied”. (15 year old)
“The priority now is save the planet. The government must install efficient
recycling centres to save our planet for our children.” (14 year old)
Protection:
81 of you completed postcards with suggestions that came under this
category. The chart below outlines your thoughts and comments on
‘Protection’.
Protection
12%
Bullying
Road Safety
Child Abuse
Homelessness
Community Safety
39%
19%
16%
14%
And here’s what some of you have said on ‘Protection’:
“Crack down on bullying! I've seen what it can do to people. to my friends” (13
year old)
“I think you should give teachers courses on how to handle bullies and people
being bullied” (13 year old)
“Stop bullying in schools so then pupils can get on with school work” (15 year
old)
“I would get the prime minister to put the dangerous paedophiles back in
prison because they could do it again” (13 year old)
“I would like to stop cruelty to children because it is not fair on the child who is
getting hurt” (15 year old)
“More security so that people don't get raped, murdered or hurt!” (14 year old)
Participation & Citizenship:
60 of you completed postcards with suggestions that came under this
category. The chart below outlines your thoughts and comments on
‘Participation & Citizenship’.
Participation & Citizenship
Voting Rights / Age
7%
War / foreign aid
41%
35%
17%
Children's
representatives in
Govt
Fox hunting`
And here’s what some of you said on ‘Participation & Citizenship’:
“Introduce votes at 16 so young people will be more interested in politics”. (16
year old)
“I'd want our opinions to be heard because we know more about us than
adults” (14 year old)
“Government should increase young peoples awareness and give reasons to
decision. Encourage an active role in our world today”. (16 year old)
“To make world wide peace so the world can be a better place for everyone”
(17 year old)
Inclusion:
33 of you completed postcards with suggestions that came under this
category. The chart below outlines your thoughts and comments on
‘Inclusion’.
Inclusion
36%
Money/benefits
Racism
64%
And here’s what some of you have said about ‘Inclusion’:
“To means test family allowances and increase the allowances of those how
really need it” (18 year old)
“Help to reduce racism, so that everyone can live in peace and freedom” (14
year old)
“Tackle age discrimination because it can be demoralising to young people
and children” (13 year old)
Responsibility:
30 of you completed postcards with suggestions that came under this
category. The chart below outlines your thoughts and comments on
‘Responsibility’.
Responsibility
33%
Vandalism/crime
Independent living
67%
And here’s what some of you said about ‘Responsibility’:
“Help for young people trying to start their own lives, moving on, getting a flat”
(16 year old)
“Job opportunities for under 16s because we want to earn money as well as
adults” (15 year old)
“More changes to get work experience and job opportunities to boost CVs and
job prospects” (16 year old)