12 February 2008
A year ago the much discussed and despoiled Unicef Report on the state of our world’s children was published. Inevitably it was met with nationwide wringing of hands and perplexed indignation. According to UNICEF, British children were among the least healthy, the least educated, the least happy and the most at risk in the developed world…many of us, rightly so, felt ashamed, worried and dispirited.
It was revealed, with what seemed like great media merriment, that: young Britons do not trust their peers, do not feel respected, and do not talk to their parents. They take too many risks with their sexual, physical and mental health.
As pointed out by ministers, and fairly so, the findings were significantly out of date, much of the ethnographic work was undertaken five years ago. The findings did not place in context or measure the impact of policy innovations such as the 1300 Sure Start Centres; the considerable increases in Child Benefit; the 1,100 new schools; the personalised learning of 600,000 children that is benefiting some of the most disengaged and hard to reach young people in the UK.
Much more importantly the hysteria that met the report did not, as usual, tell the truth about young Britons. Millions of kids, despite constant demonisation, live positive lives: they work hard and do well at school. They have strong and loyal friendships and protect and love their siblings. Young Britons volunteer in their local community, assisting and supporting older people, working on conservation projects, attending school, doing well in exams, carrying hope, talking and generally holding society in respect and making a contribution. They have never seen the inside of a police station and they never will. They don’t carry guns or knives. They experiment with drugs and alcohol, but they don’t binge drink or spiral into drug abuse. They take their sexual health very seriously, but they also fall in love and sometimes make mistakes.
They have strong views on poverty, the environment, on immigration, on human rights… and I know because I have worked with thousands of children and young people. They love this country: they are all proud to be British and have great hope for the future.
The lives of our children and young people are better today than they were 10 years ago. If UNICEF was to repeat the survey today, I believe the results would be very different. They would, however, still not make for comfortable reading. Our children are besieged by society, government and media representations of adult fear, mistrust and worry over the UK’s dangerous, violent and criminal youth. A generation is being caricatured as being too busy to make a contribution because they are mugging the elderly, truanting, failing exams, carrying knives, graffing, fighting and generally holding society to ransom. God forbid they stand on street corners in groups. This nonsensical caricature is an offensive, simplistic and fictitious representation of our children.
Children and young people are bombarded with the rhetoric of “turn that music down”, “pull those jeans up”, “what have you had pierced?”, “don’t stand on that street corner”. Hoodies are symbols of fear and imminent violence, of failing schools, falling standards, anti-social behavior. We demand that young people “never ever get angry” and “respect” adults because I say so, be thinner, be fatter or eat this, but don’t eat that, of sex equals STDs and unwanted pregnancies, with the tax payer footing the benefit bill. We throw up our hands in mock surprise that the aspirations of our children are reduced to the desire to be a model or a gangster.
If, in 10 years time, when UNICEF publish again the UK still fares badly it will be because The Government has not had the foresight or the courage to get their hands really dirty and sort this out.
Four things, if addressed and resourced could, continue the process of reclaiming the streets, the ambitions and hope of our children and young people. Firstly, cabinet ministers, especially younger members, need to commit to countering the rhetoric of negativity constantly being spewed at our young people. If all of us spent as much time praising and highlighting the great achievements of our young people as we do condemning the vile behaviour of the very few, children may not feel so isolated. This can be done. The Labour movement has successfully shifted cultures since it was founded. Think only of the trade union or anti-racist movement, equal pay, the minimum wage or human rights, radical cultural change is what we do.
Secondly, acknowledge (even in private) that the stick will not work. It hasn’t worked, ever. It will not work with young people and families that are so often feeling left behind and excluded. Let’s please call it like it is, there is absolutely no empirical evidence of note that the stick can shift cultures. None. I know I keep on saying it, I have worked with disengaged young people and their families for 15 years now. The stick is pointless young people are contemptuous of ASBO’s, of parenting orders & contracts and of behavior contracts.
Thirdly, bring back the extended family but a 21st century version. Set-up and resource a nation-wide mentoring/support scheme, (Mentor Britain PLC) for children, young people, families and lone adults: A network of citizens, young and old, to support and sustain each other. Imagine mentoring for single mums by single mums on a deprived estate in Manchester or London. A locally-based network of women who are living similar lives, experiencing similar problems, trained and supported to assist each other, and their children and living just around the corner! Imagine again, an army of older people networked to support and assist each other and even more radical young people, to work together to discuss and find solutions to some of their fears both actual and perceived. Imagine again mentors (old and young) for every young person across this nation in, and outside of school, properly trained to support and sustain each other’s emotional well being. Then Imagine finally all three networks plus others working together ensuring better understanding, and watching out for, guiding and mentoring our young people because they know it to be their civic duty.
This isn’t neighbourhood watch or tenants’ associations. It is best seen as “UK Citizens Anonymous… Hello! I am a UK citizen and I need some support please”. (I obviously jest, but hope I make my point).
Fourthly, (I would say this wouldn’t I?) partner with the Third Sector and the private sector to deliver this. Don’t rely on the over-burdened teacher, social worker or health worker. There is a legion of skilled, voluntary sector organisations who can assist The Government in building the ever-important communities and families that can raise our young people and would take great pride in returning this nation to a new 21st century extended family.
Emma-Jane Cross | Chief Executive, Beatbullying
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