A report on today’s BBC news has highlighted how ‘almost 40%’ of 10-17 year olds are worried about crime. Was theft, stalking or assault something that you worried about as a teenager? Or has something shifted in society to make this a prime teenage cause for concern?
The findings come from The Children’s Society annual report, which notes the disturbing finding that happiness amongst the 3000 children surveyed every year is falling, and that other concerns such as parental debt and money struggles are a large anxiety for many. These are adult concerns that children as young as 10 years old are worrying about. As practitioners in the educational and medical professions, we need to be aware of these difficulties and start to think about how we can offer support.
Where crime is concerned at least, the reality might not be as bleak as the perception. 17% of children reported a crime in the last year, suggesting that the probability of being a victim is nowhere near as high as the number of children worrying about it. The report suggests that the prevalence of social media may be to blame in highlighting and exaggerating crimes without really providing a context or reassurance for children. Nonetheless, the fact remains that many children, often from already deprived or vulnerable backgrounds, are living in fear of crimes that are stealing away the innocence of their childhood.
Given that many individuals will leave home to come to University, reassurance and support about crime and money worries should be an important consideration, especially in ensuring the most vulnerable and affected have a safe and protected route into education. Many Universities now have active campaigns to ensure safety on campuses, but perhaps outreach work could begin earlier to address and ameliorate some of the underlying issues and concerns. If we are serious about encouraging a more diverse cohort into Higher Education, we need to be pro-active in understanding where they’re coming from. Reports such as this one can be a great place to start…