The Youth Voice Census 2025, capturing the experiences of over 8,000 young people aged 11–30 across the UK, paints a revealing picture of what it means to grow up today. It’s a story of contrasts — where young people value their schools and communities, yet feel uncertain, fatigued, and “stuck in the middle.” Our Community Foundation ensured that young people from Alum Rock had their say by working collectively with the West Midlands Combined Authority and Youth Employment UK to create a unique opportunity. We delivered weekly Youth Census surgeries, where young people had access to laptops, free internet, were in a safe space and supported by our youth mentors to complete their induvial surveys.
The Census shows a rising sense of neutrality — “Caught between potential and opportunity.” Many young people neither feel thriving nor failing; they’re surviving, not necessarily progressing. While access to support is improving (41% report mental health support access and 54% physical health support), wellbeing remains fragile. Almost one in four students missed over 10 days of education last year due to illness or poor health, and 55% reported disruption in learning.
For young people not in education, employment or training (NEET), the data is even more concerning — only 26% feel they know what employers want, compared with 49% overall.
What Young People Are Saying – and What We’re Hearing Locally in Alum Rock
In Alum Rock and East Birmingham, the national picture feels familiar. Our young people — especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds and ethnic minority communities — echo these themes daily. Through Our Community Foundation’s work in schools, sports sessions, youth clubs, and digital media projects, we hear similar stories:
Mental health and wellbeing: Young people talk about pressure, burnout, and a lack of safe spaces to talk. The Census’ finding that 10% report maximum anxiety resonates locally, especially among young women and those facing financial hardship.
Skills and confidence: Many feel capable — yet uncertain how those skills fit the job market. While 64% nationally feel confident in teamwork and 60% in creativity, fewer than half feel confident in public speaking or leadership.
We see this in Alum Rock — young people brimming with talent but doubting their potential.
Employment barriers: Only half nationally feel fairly paid, and fewer than 1 in 3 NEET young people feel confident they could find good local work. This mirrors the limited job and training opportunities young people in East Birmingham regularly highlight.
When young people in Alum Rock tell us they feel “stuck” — between education, opportunity, and wellbeing — they’re describing exactly what the Youth Census has evidenced on a national scale.
How Our Community Foundation Is Responding
At Our Community Foundation (OCF.), our mission aligns directly with these findings. Our strategic framework (2025–2030) focuses on three core pillars:
Living Well
Youth Futures
Shield
Here’s how our local action connects to national insights:
Improving Wellbeing: We’ve created spaces where young people can talk, play, and express themselves — through sport, creative media, and mentoring. Our youth-led approach ensures they shape the support they need.
Building Skills and Employability: From our youth podcast projects to digital media training and sport leadership pathways, young people learn transferable skills — teamwork, communication, creativity — all highlighted as strengths in the Census.
Tackling Inequality: In Alum Rock, opportunity often depends on postcode. That’s why OCF works to bridge that gap, providing access to programmes that national systems often overlook — from girls’ mentoring to employment support for young men at risk of antisocial behaviour.
Co-creation and Youth Voice: The Census calls for “co-designed services” and “investment in youth spaces.” This is already at the heart of OCF’s model — our Youth Steering Panel ensures every programme is youth-led, not top-down.
Gaps and Opportunities Ahead
While the work is making real impact, we can’t ignore the gaps:
Work Experience & Employer Engagement: Only 26% of young people nationally accessed work experience in the past year — a sharp drop. Locally, many young people still lack meaningful exposure to the workplace. There’s a pressing opportunity for local employers in Birmingham to open their doors and co-create routes into work with OCF.
Digital Skills & Confidence: With only 54% of young people feeling confident in digital skills, digital literacy must become a local priority. OCF is expanding its digital and creative media training, but broader investment in equipment, mentoring, and infrastructure is needed.
Youth Spaces & Safety: 40% of young people nationally said they feel “neither safe nor unsafe” in their area — neutrality hiding insecurity. Alum Rock’s young people often describe the same. Continued investment in youth-led safe spaces can transform this into confidence and belonging.
Moving from Survival to Strength
The Youth Voice Census reminds us that young people don’t want to be stuck between potential and opportunity — they want a fair chance to thrive.
At OCF, we refuse to accept a future where young people are merely surviving. Our commitment is to create opportunities that inspire belief, rebuild confidence, and unlock potential.
Every young person deserves to feel seen, heard, and supported — not just to survive, but to thrive.
Join the Conversation
We can’t do this alone. If you’re a stakeholder, local business, school, funder, or community partner, join us in creating opportunities for young people in East Birmingham.
👉 Partner with Our Community Foundation
📧 Email: enquiries@ourcommunity.org.uk
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“Young people aren’t stuck — they’re waiting to be seen, heard, and believed in. When we listen and act, potential turns into opportunity.”
— Basharat Dad, Founder & CEO Our Community Foundation