Despite rising from bottom (21st) place in 2007 to 16th place in 2013, there are still areas where the UK ranks significantly low, and these tend to affect 15-19 year-olds. They include a continuing high rate of teenage pregnancy and high numbers of young people under 19 not in education, employment or training. The UK also has one of the highest alcohol abuse rates by 11 to 15 year-olds.
Anita Tiessen, deputy executive director of UNICEF UK, told Youthwork what she thinks is behind the problem: ‘The ongoing economic crisis and significant cuts to services (more than £300 million in 2011-12) aimed to support and protect children and young people has only worsened the situation. We are calling on the government to implement a coherent youth policy and ensure ring-fenced funding for services which support children from 0-18 to ensure they can make the most of all the educational, employment and social opportunities available to them.’
The report indicates that between 2000 and 2010 the previous government’s policies paved the way for more children, particularly in their early years, to have improved lives. However, this was not matched by a sustained focus on the teenage years.
