GROWING UP This chapter presents the views of children and young people living in Carlisle. It considers the aspects of life they currently enjoy and value, including their positivity about where they live. The chapter also presents their reflections on the issues that trouble them, including the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on their families, the legacy of their experiences during the Covid-19 pandemic and their fears for the future. Interwoven with the thoughts of children and young people are views from local youth organisations and their reflections on some of the most troubling statistics. These include child poverty, unstable family circumstances, and a lack of comprehensive youth services across all of Carlisle. A lot of young people don’t go to school post-covid and they are struggling to interact with each other. Kids are often in a bubble, and they don’t socialise as much as they did pre-Covid. Lots of young people are not in school now and this has got worse. The cost-of-living crisis is also affecting kids and there’s been a massive increase in holiday hunger. Voluntary Sector Representative • Positive perceptions of Carlisle: Children and young people suggest that they like Carlisle for having everything close together, kind and friendly people, and the outdoor spaces, including the castle. However, they would like to see more shops and things to do. • Committed youth organisations: Carlisle has several widely respected youth organisations, that play a crucial role supporting, empowering and developing young people. Some youth organisations are also addressing the long-term consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis, particularly with regard to mental health. • Encouraging school performance: 92% of primary schools and 50% of secondary schools are rated as ‘Good’ in their latest Ofsted reports, with one school – the Richard Rose Morton Academy – winning the best secondary school category at the Golden Apple Awards 2024.1 • Civic citizens: Young people are praised for their willingness to engage in community life, contributing their time, energy and enthusiasm to improve the local environment and the lives of others. OPPORTUNITIES • Growing mental health issues: Dramatic rise in referrals for children and young people’s mental health services with higher rates of hospital admissions related to mental health challenges and self-harm than regional and national averages. • Fear of crime: From conversations with children and young people in Carlisle, there is a perceived fear of crime. Despite Carlisle generally being a safe place to live, children and young people report not feeling safe, particularly at night, expressing concerns about antisocial behaviour, drug misuse and knife crime. They also have concerns about hate crime directed towards those who are neurodiverse, and those who have differing ethnicities or differing sexual identities. • Cost-of-living crisis: Children and young people are aware of the cost-ofliving crisis and how it is affecting their families, with some suggesting that they are actively changing their behaviours to support their parents and carers during difficult times. • Obesity: While the statistics are broadly in line with national averages, Carlisle still has almost a quarter of children in Reception year and a third of children in Year 6 being classified as overweight or obese. • Gaps in youth provision: Despite the positive work undertaken by organisations such as Carlisle Youth Zone, the Rock and Brampton Community Centre, there are some concerns about a lack of youth provision in other areas of Carlisle including Longtown, Bellevue, Morton, Denton Holme and Yewdale and the limited transport links that allow young people to attend activities. • Negative perceptions of Carlisle as a vibrant city: Young people report that Carlisle doesn’t have a ‘city feel’ and lacks the shops, bars, restaurants and music venues present in other cities like Manchester and Glasgow. This encourages some to want to move away, even though they like their home town, and leads young people to call for a more vibrant cultural and leisure offer that would encourage them to remain in Carlisle. • Increasing child poverty: More and more children are living in households receiving Universal Credit and some areas of Carlisle have large percentages of children and young people living in poverty. • More children with Education and Health Care Plans (EHCP): The number of children with an EHCP is increasing. In 2023-2024, 5.1% of children had an EHCP.2 • Concerning hospital admissions: Substance misuse among individuals aged 15 to 24 years in Cumberland is leading to hospital admission rates that are significantly higher than both national and regional averages. CHALLENGES There is no doubt that children and young people are navigating an increasingly complex tapestry of challenges, set within a context of growing inequality and deepening poverty. The impact of this is in clear view. Young people need and indeed deserve us to act, and crucially, to act with and alongside them. Young people are already telling us what they think will make a difference, our response must be anchored by their voice. There are strong foundations to build on, and Carlisle has a proud history of supporting our city’s young people so I am confident that together, including with young people, we can seize the available opportunities. Professor of Practice My students tell me they are concerned about night time safety and the night time economy. It is something that matters to them. They are often reluctant to be out in the evening unless for necessities, as they often feel unsafe after dark in Carlisle. Independent Researcher Carlisle: Opportunities & Challenges 2025 10 11
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