A study of youth is put on record

Oct 7 2008 by Les Stewart, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

A UNIQUE snapshot of Big County youth has revealed how many youngsters feel undervalued by their communities and let down by their schools.

On a brighter note, many are optimistic about their future and ready to take responsibility for their actions.

Five thousand Perthshire and Renfrewshire school pupils took part in the first study of its kind in Europe.

The 156 multiple-choice questions covered everything from the importance of telling the truth and how much encouragement pupils receive at school to pupils' views on reading for pleasure and how often pupils eat with their families.

The mixed picture includes 72 per cent of young people being optimistic about their personal future, 67 per cent reporting that their family provides a high level of love and support and 61 per cent accepting and taking personal responsibility.

However, only 14 per cent of respondents felt that the community values youth, 20 per cent said that school provides a caring, encouraging environment and 25 per cent of young people know how to plan ahead and make choices.

Conducted by the Perth and Paisley branches of the YMCA, the results were unveiled at a conference in Perth to illustrate a wide range of the attitudes of today's Scottish youngsters.

Funded by the Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland's biggest single grant, awarded in 2007, the snapshot will be closely scrutinised by a range of bodies including voluntary organisations, teachers, government departments, the police, elected representatives and churches.

Representatives of these organisations will be encouraged to reflect on how the findings impact on their day-to-day practice in relation to young people.

The study – 'Developmental Assets: A Profile of Your Youth' – was designed by the Search Institute in Minneapolis who have surveyed over three million youngsters in North America during the last 15 years.

Through its work in the United States, the institute has seen an increase in educational attainment, a decrease in anti-social activity and a rise in the productivity of local companies.

The YMCA-commissioned study was completed by more than 5000 pupils of mixed gender, aged between 12 and 17, within six schools in Perthshire and four in the Paisley area.

This makes it the largest use of the survey outside North America.

Ian Marr, chief executive of Perth and District YMCA, said: “Young people are in a transition from child to adult – they are working out how to be adults.

“They do that in relationships – relationships with their peers and with other adults in their community.

“It's vital that they have good relationships with supportive adults because they are, after all, on a journey to becoming one!

“It's critical that adults in the community realise the importance of their role in supporting young people's development.”

The conference was followed by a two-day training seminar educating a range of professionals on the Search Institute's journey in communities over the last 15 years.