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New report on children affected by violence published

The Youth Endowment Fund has published a new report focusing on how children are affected by violence.

The report suggests that 20% of teenagers have experienced violence first-hand as victims with 5% of children aged 13-17 saying they have carried a weapon in the past year.

However the impact of violence is shown to extend far wider, with two-thirds (67%) expressing concern about becoming victims themselves. Concern is shown to be highest among children from Black and mixed ethnic backgrounds, 74% and 70%, respectively, compared to 66% of White children.

Children who went missing from home were five times more likely to engage in violence, while those approached to transport or store drugs and weapons were six times more likely. Gang involvement and carrying weapons further escalated these risks, with children in gangs or those carrying weapons being seven times more likely to commit acts of violence than their peers.

This widespread fear is reshaping how children live their lives. Over half (52%) reported changing their behaviours, with a third (33%) avoiding certain places or social events. For over a fifth (22%), the anxiety has taken a toll on their mental health, disrupting sleep, suppressing appetite and making it harder to focus in school.

Read the full report here.

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Published on 4th February 2025

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