• Politician with more profile than a pop star - 63% of young people recognised David Cameron compared to 45% knowing Leona Lewis
• Family members top role model stakes with 40% of young people citing their parents as their main inspiration, compared to only 15% picking a celebrity
• Tougher punishments win approval, with 83% of young people agreeing with Boris Johnson’s knife crime tactics
A generation of socially astute, politically aware young people as well versed in the Cameron Factor as the X-Factor has been revealed in research released today. These young people embrace traditional values like parental role models, tougher crime deterrents and the desire to do well at school.
Charge, Community Channel’s youth platform commissioned the survey of 2000 young people aged between 16-19 years old, to tie in with the Autumn launch of its politics show The House, presented by young people and filmed in the House of Commons.
The research reveals that respondents gave their support to back to basic crime deterrents. An overwhelming eight out of ten young people (83%) support Boris Johnson’s plans to make knife carriers pay the price by helping to clean up their community through street cleaning, collecting rubbish and tackling graffiti.
At odds with the media emphasis on the power of celebrity culture on young people, the research revealed a politician with more profile than a pop star, with more young people recognising David Cameron (63%) than Leona Lewis (45%). When it comes to keeping up to date on current affairs, 67% of respondents revealed that they regularly watch the news or read a newspaper, debunking ideas that this is a generation only obsessed with celebrity magazines and throw away culture.
In terms of role models the overwhelming inspiration for respondents came from more traditional quarters, with the largest majority (40%) citing their parents as their main inspiration. Once again the celebrity factor was less influential with only 15% of respondents naming a celebrity as their main role model.
When it comes to what worries young people, the issue of fitting in with peers and looking the part was as strong as ever, with 70% of respondents citing it as their main concern. The worry triggers for young people all centred on traditional or recurring issues like the desire to perform well in the classroom. 18% citied doing well at school as a major concern, whilst any pressure to be in a gang came in at the bottom of their list, with only 13% pinpointing it as a worry.
Regional variations show that for young people in the North East their overriding concern is to perform well at school (19%), as oppose to the West Midlands (42%) and the East Midlands (36%) where the desire to have the right things is their major worry trigger.
Hannah, 20 young reporter for Charge: ‘ There’s a lot of young people who don’t carry knives, or go out looking for trouble, but the actions of a few mean that we often get lumped together and given a bad name. A lot of us are interested in politics, not just celebrity gossip and actually want to get our views heard’.
Notes to Editors
1. Please credit Charge on Community Channel – www.communitychannel.org/charge
2. Charge on Community Channel airs on Wednesdays at 8pm and Sundays at 6pm
3. The survey was conducted by LM Research. 2000 young people aged 16-19 from across England were questioned.
4. Press enquires please contact the Press Office on 020 7217 3743
About Charge
Charge is a digital platform on Community Channel dedicated to showcasing dynamic, socially engaging content made by young people, encouraging them to volunteer and engage in issues and debate. Focused on 16-25 year olds in the UK, it is the only digital platform dedicated to volunteering, social action and issues for young people with a national broadcast element. It is funded by Vodafone UK Foundation and v.
www.communitychannel.org/charge
About The House
The House, a new show on Charge on Community Channel, opens up the doors to Westminster enabling young reporters inside to question the movers and the shakers themselves. The House puts young people in charge of their own representation and provides meaningful engagement with those in the driving seat of the country.
About Community Channel
Community Channel is dedicated to engaging audiences with the charitable and voluntary sector, showcasing stories and issues that inspire action and encourage involvement. Broadcasting original shows, the best of terrestrial TV and showcasing the work of new directors and community programme makers, Community Channel is the place for real-life stories from communities around the world. The channel is broadcast 24 hours a day on Sky 539, Virgin TV 233 and from 6am to 9am on Freeview 87. Around 1.5 million people tune in every month and we receive more than 12,000 interactions with viewers a week. Community Channel is a Media Trust initiative. Visit www.communitychannel.org
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