Basic needs become ‘aspirational’ for young people: Co-op

Basic needs, such as having enough money to pay for food, have become aspirational for many young people, with one in three (35 per cent) accessing food support in the last six months, a major new study by the Co-op and children’s charity Barnardo’s has found.

One of the largest studies of its kind, "Youth Opportunities Tracker: Fairer Futures", looked at the experiences, life chances and aspirations of over 5,000 10–25-year-olds across the UK, and how they have changed since 20212. Despite the government’s ambitions to improve opportunities and outcomes through its levelling up agenda, the study uncovered the stark impact that the rising cost of living is having on young people’s access to food, mental wellbeing, and opportunities for the future.

In the last six months, almost half (46 per cent) of young people have worried about being able to afford things, with one in three (35 per cent) saying their family has used food support, such as a community fridge or food bank. Almost a quarter (23 per cent) say they have started the day without a meal.

The study also found that the rising cost of living is having a significant knock-on impact on young people’s life goals, as making it through day-to-day takes priority. Having enough money to cover basic needs has become the most common aspiration for 9 in 10 (89 per cent) of young people, overtaking other traditional goals such as “achieving their dream job” (85 per cent) or "buying a house” (83 per cent).

Worryingly, only three-quarters (76 per cent) think it is likely they will be able to have enough money to cover basic needs in the future.

Shirine Khoury-Haq, CEO of Co-op Group says: “The cost of living has had a seismic impact on young people, with many having to prioritise immediate needs like where their next meal will come from, over long-term goals and aspirations.

“Remarkably, despite all of this, young people continue to show resilience and ambition to create a better future. But all too often they are cut out of important discussions and policy making decisions that directly impacts them. We know that taking a grassroots approach and giving young people a voice on the issues which affect them will drive better long-term outcomes for them and their communities."

Co-op has partnered with Barnardo’s to raise £5m to support 750,000 young people in communities across the UK, working with young people to identify the problems they face and co-create solutions.

Long-term concerns about the impact of the rising cost of living on young people’s wellbeing cannot be overlooked. Two in five (41 per cent) young people said they have worried about their own mental wellbeing in the last six months, with a similar number (42 per cent) admitting to worrying about how their parents/carers are coping with the cost of living.