Majority of children concerned about being the victims of violence

In 2024 the Youth Endowment Fund [YEF] partnered with Savanta to conduct its annual ‘Children, violence and vulnerability’ research, which explores how teenage children (aged 13–17) in England and Wales experience violence.

The YEF and Savanta surveyed over 10,000 teenage children, and the findings are detailed across five reports, each with a different focus.

This first report explores who is affected by violence, how widespread it is, the various forms it takes, and its impact on children’s lives. Here’s what we found:

Report 1 – ‘Who is affected by violence?’ – Headline findings

• A worrying minority of children continue to have direct experiences of violence. In the past 12 months, 1 in 5 (20%) teenage children have been victims of violence, while 1 in 6 (16%) have perpetrated violence.
• Experiences of violence are concentrated among the most vulnerable, especially children struggling in education at risk of exploitation and who’ve interacted with the police.
• A relatively small number of teenage children carry weapons. Concerningly, 1 in 20 (5%) say they carried a weapon in the past year.
• But the majority of children feel the effects of violence. 67% of 13-17-year-olds are concerned about being the victim of violence from other young people.

You can download the full report, designed by Savanta’s in-house Creative Team, by clicking here.

Savanta’s Youth Practice has been researching young people since 2004. We’re the Millennial, Gen Z, and Gen Alpha experts. Find out how the Savanta Youth Practice can inform and inspire your organisation.