Can You See Us? Report Challenges Public Perceptions of Young People

The #iWill Movement has unveiled a landmark report, Can You See Us?, revealing the persistent gap between public perceptions of young people and their significant contributions to society. Spanning three years (2022–2024) and gathering insights from over 1,000 UK respondents annually, the report highlights how misconceptions about young people hinder their empowerment and leadership opportunities. 

Key Findings 

• Negative stereotypes persist: Many older age groups continue to describe young people as “naïve,” “entitled,” and “lazy.” 
• Awareness influences attitudes: People familiar with Youth Social Action (YSA) are far more likely to have positive perceptions of young people. 
• Mismatch of priorities: While young people champion causes like climate action and equality, these issues often fail to resonate with older generations. For the second consecutive year, support from older generations for campaigns on LGBTQ+ issues has notably declined. 
• Barriers to leadership: While 74% of respondents support young voices in politics, only 39% trust young people in decision-making roles. 

Recommendations 

The report urges policymakers, communities, and organisations to take action in: 

• Encouraging intergenerational dialogue to bridge understanding between age groups. 
• Reshaping media narratives to better reflect the positive contributions of young people. 
• Investing in platforms that spotlight and amplify youth-led change. 

Voices from the Movement 

Stacey Carmichael, Youth Social Action Lead at BBC Children in Need, said: 

“This report underlines the importance of investing in young people’s potential. Through our programme, we are committed to breaking down barriers and building trust to ensure every young person feels empowered to lead and create change.” 

An #iwill Ambassador shared their perspective: 

“We are more than the labels placed on us. We want to build a better world—let’s create it together.” 

Join the Conversation 

The Can You See Us? report challenges us all to rethink how we view and support young people. Read the full report below and learn how we can collectively foster a society where young people thrive as leaders and changemakers. 

Read the Full Report

For media inquiries, please contact:
Jon Ball, UK Youth media manager, at jon.ball@ukyouth.org or on 07974 914299

Notes to Editors 

About the #iWill Movement 

The #iWill Movement is a collaboration of over 1,000 organisations, over 300 young #iWill Ambassadors and over 1500 young #iWill Champions from across the UK. They are united by a shared vision of a society that understands & champions the power of youth – where all young people are equipped and enabled to shape and lead change- in their own lives & communities. It’s our mission to invest in young people’s passions and talents, amplifying their voices, and empowering them to take an active role in transforming their communities through social action. 

The #iWill Movement was launched in November 2013 after an independent review into how different sectors could help more young people to make a positive difference. The movement is supported by an independent coordination hub, hosted by Volunteering Matters & UK Youth. 

About UK Youth 

UK Youth is a leading charity with a vision that all young people are equipped to thrive and empowered to contribute at every stage of their lives. With an open network of more than 9,000 youth organisations and nation partners; UK Youth reaches more than four million young people across the UK and is focused on unlocking youth work as the catalyst of change that is needed now more than ever. To find out more, visit ukyouth.org