University bids to encourage more young people to get involved in politics and public life

By Charlotte Morris

The University of Glasgow’s John Smith Centre will publish a major new survey of youth opinion in the UK, as part of efforts to inspire and encourage more young people to get involved in politics and public life.

The Centre has signed up leading UK pollster FocalData to carry out in-depth conversations with young people across the country, and to publish a poll of young peoples’ attitudes and priorities.

The delivery of the poll will eventually led by students at the University of Glasgow, taking inspiration from the annual Harvard Youth Poll, which similarly sees young people designing and publishing data on youth opinion in the USA.

Eddie Barnes, pictured right, director of the John Smith Centre, said: “There is much talk about the challenges facing young people in modern Britain – from the unaffordable cost of housing, to the culture wars that they have to navigate.

“Our UK Youth Poll this spring will – for the first time – provide a clear sightline on the experience of growing up in modern Britain, helping us understand properly how young people feel about their own lives and the future of the UK.

“This research will be vital to the John Smith Centre’s mission to inspire more young people into public life – because it’s only when we understand how young people feel and think that we can do so effectively.

“Young people continue to be largely over-looked by pollsters and politicians. Our new UK Youth Poll is an attempt to correct that.”

James Kanagasooriam, chief research officer at FocalData added: “There’s not nearly enough detailed and considered research on the UK’s youngest voters – who are far more heterodox, hard to categorise and place than the broad stereotypes often deployed. We hope to address that problem with this study.”

The John Smith Centre at the University of Glasgow was set up by the family of the late Labour leader to encourage more young people to get involved into politics, especially those who are under-represented in public life.

The UK Youth Poll will be published on March 31, 2025. Anyone interested in further details, or in supporting our efforts, please contact eddie.barnes@glasgow.ac.uk.

John Smith Centre

The John Smith Centre is dedicated to shifting the narrative surrounding politics by advocating for its importance in effecting positive change. Through advocacy, research and development programmes, the Centre works to break down barriers to political engagement and inspire individuals to participate in shaping UK politics. The John Smith Centre is based within the University of Glasgow. For more information, visit johnsmithcentre.com.