Transcript Document
Surveys of parents, young people and schoolchildren in Luton Written report Linda Balodis, Account Manager
Because People Matter Because People Matter
Table of contents
Contents
Introduction Staying safe Health and fitness 18 Getting involved and having your say 26 Free time Achieving Growing up in Luton 29 36 56 Executive summary
Page no.
3 11 64
Because People Matter
Introduction
Because People Matter
Background
• The Children Act 2004 identified the need for a national framework for building services around the needs of young people and maximising their opportunities for health and development • Luton Borough Council and its partners wished to consult with young people and parents to understand their views and aspirations
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Method (1)
• Surveys were conducted with children/young people aged 13 – 19 years and parents: – Questionnaires were also distributed across all 12 secondary schools in Luton (representing 7,258 pupils) and 4,881 questionnaires were returned (67% response rate) – 9,313 questionnaires were mailed to all 16–19 year olds living in Luton; 1,079 were returned (12% response rate) – 120 telephone interviews were completed among parents on the Luton Citizens’ Panel
Because People Matter
Profile of school children (unweighted)
• The ages of school children were: – 32% 13 years – 36% 14 years – 28% 15 years – 4% 16 years – <1% 17 years • 42% were from BME communities – (with 14% of Pakistani, 6% of Bangladeshi and 5% of Kashmiri origin) • 49% were male and 51% female (of those who answered the question) • 16% had a disability
Because People Matter
Profile of young people (unweighted)
• The ages of young people were: – 38% 16 years – 31% 17 years – 18% 18 years – 14% 19 years • 44% were of from BME communities – (with 12% of Pakistani and 4% of Indian origin) • 35% were male and 65% female • 82% were in education/training (full or part time) • 10% had a disability
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Profile of parents (unweighted)
• Parents had children of a range of ages: – 40% with 0 – 7 year olds – 59% with 8 – 14 year olds – 38% with 15 – 18 year olds • 14% of parents were from BME communities • 14% of parents personally had a disability • 11% had children with a disability
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Method (2)
• School data was weighted by the population in each school year • Young people’s data was weighted by age, gender and ethnicity from the Census • Only weighted data is shown for school children and young people in the report • Parents’ data is broadly representative, so unweighted • All fieldwork took place in October and November 2005
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Key to chart colours School children Young people Parents Because People Matter
Staying safe
Because People Matter
Perception of safety at school 59% 48% School Children (4881) Parents (120) 31% 29% Very safe
Unweighted base: All respondents
Quite safe 15% 7% 2% 3% Not very safe Not safe at all Because People Matter
Perception of safety outside school/out and about 58% 50% 52% 27% 20% 32% School Children (4881) Young people (1079) Parents (120) 4% 9% 20% 17% 9% 2% Very safe Quite safe
Unweighted base: All respondents
Not very safe Not safe at all Because People Matter
Because People Matter
Have any of the following things happened to you/your child? (1) Been threatened by others Been offered illegal drugs 2% 12% 19% 23% 26% 26% Had other things stolen Witnessed a crime 14% 13% 18% 16% 26% 18%
Unweighted base: All respondents
Because People Matter School children (4881) Young people (1079) Parents (120)
Have any of the following things happened to you/your child? (2) Had mobile phone stolen Been bullied Been physically attacked Been racially abused or attacked
Unweighted base: All respondents
9% 12% 8% 14% 7% 20% 10% 10% 9% 6% 10% 8% Because People Matter School children (4881) Young people (1079) Parents (120)
What ONE thing would make you/children feel safer in Luton? % saying more/better policing School children 29% Young people 45% Parents 44%
Unweighted base: All respondents School children (4881); Young people (1079); Parents (120)
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Health and fitness
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Thinking about your own/your child’s health and fitness, how worried are you about the following? (1)
% very worried
Sex and sexually transmitted infections Taking illegal drugs 21% 19% 27% 20% 19% 44% Teenage pregnancy 18% 17% 33% School children (4881) Yong people (1079) Parents (120) Smoking cigarettes 16% 11% 35% Drinking alcohol 6% 11% 31%
Unweighted base: All respondents
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Thinking about your own/your child’s health and fitness, how worried are you about the following? (2)
% very worried
Your mental and emotional health (stress, depression) Managing your weight Your fitness and getting enough exercise A specific medical condition Getting a balanced diet 12% 13% 23% 8% 9% 16% 9% 9% 15% 7% 6% 17% 5% 7% 18% School children (4881) Young people ((1079) Parents (120)
Unweighted base: All respondents
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Have you asked any of the people in the list below for help or advice about any health issues in the last 12 months?
School children (%) Young people (%) Parents/guardians 48 44 Friends 36 24 38 Doctor/practice nurse School teacher/school nurse Internet/website/got advice online 11 9 4 38 5 15 Specialist clinic (e.g. Walk in centre, The Lodge) I have not asked anyone Unweighted sample bases 30 (4881) 11 25 (1079)
Unweighted base: All respondents
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How would you rate your/child’s overall health for someone their age?
60% School Children Young People Parents 39% 38% 29% 33% 36% 17% 17% Very good Good OK 10% 5% 6% 1% 2% 1% 0% Bad
Unweighted base: School children (4881); Young people (1079); Parents (120)
Very bad Because People Matter
Because People Matter
What, if anything, would you like to see improve for your health and fitness?
Involved in more sports/ exercise Better diet School children (%) 30 19 Go to the gym/ join a sports club Manage my weight better/ lose weight Manage my weight better/ put on weight Stop smoking Unweighted sample bases 13 4 2 2 (4881) Young people (%) 31 16 19 5 1 5 (1079)
Unweighted base: All respondents
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What, if anything, would you like to see improve for your child’s health and fitness?
Parents (%) Involved in more sports/exercise More/better activities/facilities available Better diet Less pollution in the area More physical education in schools More parks/open spaces Stop smoking/taking drugs More youth centres/clubs More special needs activities Cheaper facilities Other None/Don’t know Unweighted sample bases 20 13 9 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 4 39 (120)
Unweighted base: All respondents
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Getting involved and having your say
Because People Matter
Which of the following, if any, have you done in the last 12 months?
Been involved in other decision making groups Voted in school/college council elections Helped people in your local area Coached other young people in sport Helped to improve your local environment Other voluntary, charity or campaigning work Sat on the school/college council Peer mentoring Something else to help the community None of these/Not provided Unweighted sample bases
Unweighted base: All respondents
School children (%) 29 28 25 18 9 13 9 9 1 35 (4881) Young people (%) 24 21 20 12 7 18 10 10 2 41 (1079) Because People Matter
How would you/your children most like to have your/their say about the issues that affect you/them?
Questionnaires/questionnaires at school/college Text messaging, e-mail or internet Through the school/college/Uni council Expressing ideas through video, drama or music Through another adult e.g. Youth worker Questionnaires outside school Through Connexions Personal Adviser Speaking with MPs and councillors Forums and groups outside school/in community Another way I don't want to have a say Not provided/Don’t Know
Unweighted base: All respondents
Unweighted sample bases School children (%) 33 28 22 17 15 14 12 12 11 1 20 6 (4881) Young people (%) 39 37 28 16 10 n/a 11 20 12 1 11 4 (1079) Parents (%) 22 6 58 1 9 4 3 8 19 8 14 (120) Because People Matter
Free time
Because People Matter
What do you/your children do in your/their free time?
School children Young people Parents
Unweighted base: All respondents
(%) (%) (%) Socialising/ meeting friends/ spending time with boy/ girlfriend Participate in sports/ exercise/ go to the gym 45 32 52 30 51 48 28 18 8 Using the computer/ computer games/ games consoles Watch TV Physical activity (inc. Cycling, dancing) Listen to music Study/ homework Go shopping Reading Spend time with my family Smoking Relaxing Unweighted sample bases 20 11 10 9 7 6 6 1 5 (4881) 15 10 16 11 10 11 8 10 (1079) 37 25 13 4 (120) Because People Matter
Is there anything that stops you/your child doing activities that you/they want to do in your/their free time?
Activities are not available in Luton Don't know what's available Transport problems Don't have time Can't afford it Worried about my/his/her safety travelling to and from activities Parents/carers don't let me/him/her Not interested in doing any activities Another reason Nothing stops me/them Not provided Unweighted sample bases School children (%) 25 22 21 17 17 12 10 5 2 27 4 (4881) Young people (%) 39 25 33 21 46 22 5 3 3 14 1 (1079) Parents (%) 28 32 26 14 33 42 3 8 2 30 (120)
Unweighted base: All respondents
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Should the Council provide more, the same or fewer facilities and activities for young people?
More 82% The same 14% Fewer 1% Don’t know 3% Parents (120)
Unweighted base: All respondents
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Should the Council provide lots of small scale youth facilities or a reduced number of large scale facilities?
Don’t know 5% Fewer large scale 39% More small scale 56%
Unweighted base: All respondents
Because People Matter Parents (120)
Why should the Council provide more small scale facilities?
Easy to access/commute 52% More/better quality facilities Sense of community More safer Better communication Bigger facilities are more well known 7% 6% 4% 4% Easier to maintain/manage 1% 9% Ability to socialise 1%
Unweighted base: Where prefer small scale facilities
Ability to control children 1% Other Don’t know 7% 12% Parents (67) Because People Matter
Why should the Council provide more larger scale facilities?
More/better quality facilities 32% Easier to maintain/manage Easy to access/commute 9% 13% 9% More enjoyable Bigger facilities are more well known Ability to socialise 4% 4% Parents (47) Other 19% Don't know 17%
Unweighted base: Where prefer larger scale facilities
Because People Matter
Achieving
Because People Matter
What are young people doing now?
Unweighted base: All respondents
Doing a job with training Doing a job without Studying full-time at In Government In part-time education In part-time employment Looking for a job Studying full-time and 10% 6% 1% 2% 3% 11% 3% Other 2% Prefer not to say/not 2% Because People Matter 60% Young people (1079)
Highest qualification hoped to get None 1% 7% 5+ GCSEs A-C 5+ GCSEs D-G NVQ Level 1 NVQ Level 2 2% *% 8% 11% 1% 9% 6% AS/A Level 7% Degree Masters/PHD 32% 16% 19% 19% 30% Other 1% 5% 15% Not provided 43%
Unweighted base: All respondents
Because People Matter 77% School children (4881) Young people (1079)
How well do you think you are doing at school at the moment? School Children 32% 28% 27% 8% Could do much better Could do a bit better As well as I can in some things As well as I can in most things
Unweighted base: All School children (4881)
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How much do you enjoy school at the moment? 48% School Children 21% 18% 7% Don't enjoy anything I do at all Don't enjoy much of what I do
Unweighted base: All School children (4881)
Enjoy some of what I do Enjoy most of what I do Because People Matter
Because People Matter
How important are these things in helping you/your child do well in school/college, work or training?
School children % saying each is important Subjects that interest you Young people Parents 87% 81% 89% Regular feedback on progress Individual help with difficulties Chance to learn in different ways Chance to do subjects related to job opportunities 81% 82% 89% 79% 78% 90% 78% 75% 86% 78% 78% 81%
Unweighted base:All: School children (4881), young people (1079), parents (120)
Because People Matter
How frequently do you have chance to do these things?
School children % saying at least once a month Subjects that interest you Young people 52% 44% Individual help with difficulties Regular feedback on progress Chance to learn in different ways Chance to do subjects related to job opportunities
Unweighted base:All: School children (4881), young people (1079)
39% 47% 32% 44% 33% 39% 33% 32% Because People Matter
Whether would prefer (child) to go to a single or mixed sex school?
School children Parents Mixed sex school 80% 88% Single sex school 8% 11% Not applicable/not provided 4% 9%
Unweighted base: All: School children (4881), parents (120)
Because People Matter
Whether willing (for child) to travel to another school to do preferred subjects?
Yes - to any site in Luton School children 35% 30% Parents Yes - if the travel time <15 minutes No - not willing to travel 26% 31% 33% 33% Not provided 5% 6%
Unweighted base: All: School children (4881), parents (120)
Because People Matter
Whether happy or unhappy with the variety of secondary schools on offer in Luton?
52% 38% 21% Happy Unhappy SCHOOL CHILDREN (4881)
Unweighted base: All respondents
36% Happy Unhappy PARENTS (120) Because People Matter
Because People Matter
What could be done to make secondary schools or further/higher education in Luton better ?
• Around a third of all sample groups could not spontaneously think of anything that would make education in Luton better • Main issues highlighted by all groups included – Better teachers (12% SC, 8% YP, 11% P) – Better choice of subjects (8% SC, 11% YP) – Improved discipline (8% SC, 2% YP, 15% P) – Improved facilities (7% SC, 2% YP) • 8% of parents said a better teacher:student ratio would make secondary schools in Luton better
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Views on opportunities for 16-19 year olds to stay on in education in Luton?
School Children (4881) Parents (120) 12% 22% 30% 28% 38% 23% VERY GOOD
Unweighted base: All respondents
GOOD OK 5% 9% 3% 5% BAD VERY BAD Because People Matter
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What would you like to do when you reach school leaving age?
Carry on with studies at a local college Get a job WITH further training Carry on with studies at school Get a job WITHOUT further training 2% 18% 10% Not sure
Unweighted base: School children (4881)
Not provided 7% 7% 57% School children (4881) Because People Matter
Whether happy or unhappy with what you are currently doing?
% Happy with what I am currently doing UNHAPPY Would prefer to carry on with studies at school 1% 74% Would prefer to carry on with studies at a local college/university 3% Would prefer to get a job WITH training Would prefer to get a job WITHOUT training 3% 12%
Young people
Not sure 5% Not provided
Unweighted base: Young people (1079)
2% Because People Matter
Growing up in Luton
Because People Matter
What sort of information or support would help you/your child make the right choices about your life? About jobs and training About schools/colleges and exams About further and higher education About money and debt About the law and my rights About housing and finding a place to live About sex About social and leisure opportunities About drugs and alcohol About pregnancy and relationships About the environment School children % 61 57 52 41 37 36 22 28 18 21 18 (4881) Young people % 71 47 47 55 47 51 14 41 15 16 19 (1079) Parents 59 60 64 61 % 77 78 73 67 61 48 61 (120)
How would you/your child prefer to get this information or support?
53% Family/friends 41% 36% Internet 42% Books/leaflets/ posters Talking to Connexions PA 34% 32% 27% Talking to other adult (youth worker) 16% 23% Talking to staff at school Talking to health professionals 14% 13% 21% 20% Telephone helpline 8% 9% 34%
Unweighted base: School children (4881), young people (1079), parents (120)
52% 59% 58% 62% 72% 68% 63% School children Young people Parents 73%
Can you see yourself/your child living or working in Luton for the rest of your/his/her life? NO YES NOT SURE School children (4881) 42% 11% 34% Young people (1079) 51% 14% 34% Parents (120) 49%
Base: All respondents. Figures in parentheses denote unweighted bases
10% 33%
Because People Matter
What is the BEST thing about growing up in Luton?
Friends live in the area Close to my family The football team/Luton town FC Good schools/ educational facilities Good local facilities/ activities Friendly people/ friendly environment Multicultural/ diverse community 17% 16% 2% 2% 9% 11% 8% 10% 7% 10% 5% 6% 5% 15% Familiarity/knowing the area/ people 3% 4% Employment opportunities 2% 1% 2% Good shopping facilities 3%
Unweighted base: All: School children (4881), young people (1079)
School children Young people
What is the WORST thing about growing up in Luton?
High crime rate Drugs problem Lack of cleanliness in the area Unfriendly people/ antisocial behaviour Nothing to do Violence/ muggings Not a safe area to live in Racism/ racial tension Lack of facilities/ activities (inc. sports) Poor image/ reputation of the area Poor education standards/ facilities Bullying 7% 9% 7% 6% 17% 16% 6% 9% 6% 7% 5% 8% 5% 8% 4% 9% 3% 8% 3% 5% 2% 2% 2% 2%
Unweighted base: All: School children (4881), young people (1079), parents (120)
School children Young people
If you could change two things to improve your life as a young person living in Luton, what would they be? More facilities/ activities/ youth clubs More activities/ facilities/ places to go Reduce crime levels Better educational standards/ facilities Safer area to live/ more security Study harder/ achieve higher qualifications Cleaner environment More money More/ better employment opportunities Tackle the drugs problem Increased levels of policing Get more exercise/ improve fitness
Unweighted base: All respondents
School children % 9 8 7 6 6 5 4 2 3 2 2 1 (4881) Young people % 15 8 5 4 8 6 3 6 13 2 4 3 (1079) Parents % 23 9 23 12 1 3 6 7 (120) Because People Matter
Executive summary
Because People Matter
Staying safe (1)
• School is seen as safer for young people and parents than outside school – Young people and parents are more worried than school children about safety outside school • Threats, being offered illegal drugs, thefts and witnessing crime have been experienced by between one in eight and one in five school children – Young people more likely than school children to have been offered illegal drugs or witnessed a crime
Because People Matter
Staying safe (2)
• In general, parents are more worried than other groups about crime and safety • The main thing that children, young people and parents in Luton say would make them feel safer is more or better policing
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Health and fitness (1)
• The main health worries for children and young people are STIs & teenage pregnancy and illegal drugs – School children are more likely than young people to be worried about most health related issues – Parents are the most worried, with their top concerns being drugs, smoking, alcohol and teenage pregnancy
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Health and fitness (2)
• Friends and family are the most common sources of health related help or advice – Young people tend to have consulted a greater range of advice sources than school children • Three fifths of parents think that their child’s health is very good – Less than one in five school children and young people think this – Exercise and diet are seen as key in improving health and fitness
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Getting involved
• There is encouraging evidence of a lot of community engagement among children in Luton • This could be built upon with more consultation via : – Questionnaires – Electronic communications – School/college/university based Councils
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Free time
• The data suggests that there are some unmet needs in Luton in terms of facilities and activities for young people • More information is required on what is available and where
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Achieving (1)
• More than a quarter of school children think they do as well as they can in most things at school • Just under a fifth enjoy most of what they do • Interest in subjects/activities and regular feedback are important in helping children and young people do well in school/college, work or training – However, generally only a minority of children and young people feel they are getting these opportunities on a monthly basis
Because People Matter
Achieving (2)
• Parents and school children are fairly happy with the variety of secondary schools and further education options on offer in Luton – Young people feel the same about existing further and higher education • Most school children would like to continue with education in some form after they reach school leaving age – More than one in ten young people would like to have a job with training
Because People Matter
Growing up in Luton (1)
• The diverse and multicultural community in Luton is appreciated by parents and young people – No one aspect of the town stands out as the best thing about it – The crime rate, drugs problem and safety are most commonly mentioned as the worst thing about living in Luton • There are calls for better youth facilities, educational standards and employment opportunities in the town
Growing up in Luton (2)
• Support about education, jobs and training would be appreciated by children and young people – Young people would prefer to find out this information from books/leaflets/posters or the internet – Schoolchildren would prefer to find out from friends or family • Around half cannot see themselves (or their children) living and working in Luton for the rest of their lives
Conclusions and implications (1)
• School is seen as a safe place by school children and parents – Need to better understand why parents feel children and young people are unsafe outside of school and address their information needs • There are strong concerns about crime expressed by all respondent groups • Sex and relationships are key concerns for children and young people – and drugs • Children and young people would welcome more variety in their education – as well as more regular feedback
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Conclusions and implications (2)
• The majority of parents and school children would be happy to travel/their children to travel to other sites for some subjects • Some concerns about availability of employment opportunities in Luton – Calls for more jobs with training • Luton’s multicultural community is appreciated – But need to make living and working in Luton more aspirational
Because People Matter
For further information, please contact: Linda Balodis, Account Manager Tel No : 0121-333-6006 E-mail : [email protected]