Youth Voice Report
Breakdown of Results

Needs and Barriers

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IN THIS SECTION: An exploration of young people’s needs and the barriers they face

Young people

We asked young people about some of the things they might need to take part in creative and cultural activities, and then delved further to ask about the barriers that they face.

Key findings

Taking part in creative activities

Young people told us that the most important factors to them are that the activity is affordable and that they need to feel safe and calm. Also important is being active, able to express themselves, for their friends to be there and for it to be practical for them.

Being still and quiet were of less importance to most young people. In terms of venues, where it took place was of less importance than other factors, but the activity taking place in a venue that is familiar to the participant is most important.

Barriers

The biggest barriers to young people taking part in creative and cultural activities is them not being enjoyable or something that they would usually do. Of least importance are physical barriers and the spaces they happen in, though it is worth recognising that these factors will still have a large impact for those who are affected by them.

What do you need to take part in creative or cultural activities?

What barriers get in the way of you doing more creative and cultural things?

What does this tell us?

Affordability and getting to a venue were some of the overriding concerns expressed in this consultation. It is worth noting that the large variety of options for cultural activities means that many factors such as noise level will only be relevant for planning certain activities, but should be part of planning for large and combined art forms events.

  • "Having access to clubs with girls so I'm not the only girl."

  • "Sometimes, everyone is good at the activity but I'm not so I feel left out."

  • "Jobs and stuff at home."

  • "If I don't know anyone doing it."

  • "Mosque / religion."

  • "If it's fun and energising."

  • "School takes all my time up."

  • "Other activities at the same time."

  • "Feeling excluded."

  • "Too far to go."

  • "When it is, e.g. if brothers have clubs."

  • "Supplies to do it."

  • "Time probably, homework/eating lunch at lunchtimes."

  • "When other people judge me for doing something."

  • "Feeling motivated or having no inspiration."

Adults

Adults told us about the barriers that they believe young people face and what they need to be able to take part in creative and cultural activities.

Key findings

Young people’s needs for taking part in creative and cultural activities

Finances were a key concern, with a low cost for activities and accessing them being a key need.

Adults felt that young people needed a lot of support and encouragement to engage with creative and cultural activities, especially if it was an activity that they haven’t done before.

Barriers to enabling young people to part in creative and cultural activities

Economic and financial barriers were a key concern, as were the practicalities of access and the environment that activities took place in.

Adults were concerned about the amount of time that they had available, especially as teachers or working for cultural organisations, to run and support young people in engaging with creative activities.

What does this tell us?

Adults are aware of the high price that barriers can cause in preventing young people from engaging with cultural and creative activities, but they aren’t always in a position to overcome these.