Community & Charity

Is the UK divided?

5th - 12th June 2026

The National Conversation launched in May. Led by the Independent Commission for Community and Cohesion, this nationwide “listening exercise” aims to better understand what people value about their community life and what they might like it to look like in the future. With the minimum age to participate set at 16, we are delighted to partner with the National Conversation by putting one of their questions to our voters. This VoteTopic’s data will then contribute to their national findings. Flags and riots dominate the headlines; political and media narratives would have us believe that, as a country, we are more divided than ever. Do young people agree?

Do we take LGBT+ rights for granted in the UK?

29th May - 5th June 2026

June marks the start of Pride month and the Fifa Men’s World Cup. The 2022 tournament sparked debate around LGBT+ rights in host nation, Qatar, and this year has also seen some LGBT+ fan groups boycotting due to rollbacks of rights in host nations: the USA, Canada, and Mexico. Pride gives a valuable opportunity to celebrate the LGBT+ community and a chance to reflect on their history and the rights they have fought hard to win. A 2023 YouGov poll found that over three quarters of Britons supported same-sex marriage and 77% said that Britain was a tolerant country for gay and lesbian people. However, in ILGA-Europe’s Rainbow Map index of LGBT+ rights, the UK has dropped from 1st place in 2015 to to 22nd place in 2026. Often thought of as the most progressive demographic, we wanted to know how young people saw the state of LGBT+ rights in the UK.

Would you like to see wildlife on UK banknotes?

The Bank of England recently announced the results of a public consultation about what should feature on their new series of banknotes. Over 44,000 members of the public contributed, with the majority (60%) selecting British wildlife as their preferred theme. Wildlife charities have welcomed the decision, with the RSPCA saying it is a “wonderful way to celebrate the animals that we share our towns, cities and countryside with”. But it is not without its critics. Some MPs have spoken out against the change, particularly the removal of Sir Winston Churchill. Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, said that it is “removing our history”. We wanted to know what young people thought about this change and with which side of the debate they felt most aligned. Do they see it as an opportunity to celebrate a new part of British culture, or as an erosion of our past?

Do we need to embrace national flags more?

12th - 19th September 2025

Following the growing appearance of Union and St George’s flags in public places across the UK, we asked voters to explore what their presence represents. They looked at common times when flags are usually displayed, such as during sporting events or when marking country-wide days of remembrance or celebration. They also looked more closely at their recent appearance on lampposts, traffic lights and in other public places. Is the increased flag presence an expression of pride or are they stoking division between different communities?

Should astrology be used to help us make decisions?

27th June - 04th July 2025

Following research in the US that found 80% of young Americans believe in astrology, we were interested to see how data from the UK compared. Close to 33,000 students considered astrology’s merit and significance, with younger voters focusing on their birth month or star sign and Secondary and older students discussing horoscopes more generally. The results in this report show the extent to which young people in the UK think astrology should be relied upon as a method for decision-making.

Is it important for future generations to learn about VE Day?

02nd - 09th May 2025

Both the lessons and assembly for this VoteTopic marked the 80th anniversary of VE Day, which took place on Thursday 8th May 2025. Young people learned about the significance of the event and both why and how it has been celebrated each year since. The role of community and how it upholds our values was central to their learning, particularly in regard to the freedoms the war protected and their relevance in today’s society. Primary pupils considered whether we should learn about VE Day, whilst Secondary and older students discussed how important it will be to learn about VE Day in generations to come.

Would you use a local youth space?

07th - 14th March 2025

News that The Children’s Society and Chicken Cottage have teamed up to help provide safe spaces around the UK for teens to socialise piqued our interest recently. Spotify and the charity, Youth Music have also made headlines for setting up youth-focused creative projects across 15 music venues. Despite this, research from last summer shows that more than two thirds of council-run youth centres in England & Wales have closed since 2010, sparking concerns that young people could be left more isolated than ever. This left us thinking, are youth spaces seen as realistic options to today’s youth or are they outdated and in need of a rethink?

Should all young people learn about adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs)?

01st - 08th November 2024

For this VoteTopic, voters considered an issue that is recurring in the news: allergies. They explored who should be learning about adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs) and when they might be used. Meanwhile, our assembly introduced them to intolerances and how these differ from allergies.

Should UK football clubs be fan-owned?

31st May - 07th June 2024

Ahead of the UEFA Euros 2024, young people had their say on football fans and their role in the clubs they support.

Is it everyone's responsibility to end homelessness?

24th November - 01st December 2023

For this VoteTopic, young people discussed homelessness by considering the support needed to tackle the issue. They thought more closely about where this support should be coming from and those aged 7 and above voted on the question, "Is it everyone's responsibility to end homelessness?" Meanwhile, voters aged 5-7 voted on the question, "Is more help needed for people who are homeless?"

Should we learn about the Windrush generation at school?

12th - 19th May 2023

For this VoteTopic, voters looked ahead to the 75th anniversary of Windrush. They made the journey from the Caribbean to Tilbury Docks before recognising some of the Windrush generation’s incredible contributions to British life.

College & 16+ voters were asked: “Do we appreciate the contributions of the Windrush generation to Britain?”, while Secondary voters considered: “Should we learn about the Windrush generation at school?” and Primary 5-11 voters discussed: “Should we celebrate the Windrush generation more?”

Do we underestimate the impact of food banks?

02nd - 09th December 2022

As we edge closer to the festive period, our voters considered the necessity of food banks for so many people, particularly given the current cost of living crisis. They explored the meaning of community and how important it is in times of need.

Was awarding the World Cup to Qatar a mistake?

18th - 25th November 2022

As the World Cup kicks off, our voters explored the controversy that has followed it since 2010, when Qatar made a successful bid to host. They considered the human rights implications of this decision as well as the practicalities of playing in Qatar’s desert climate. Conversely, they discussed whether these conversations have a place in sporting competitions and what it means to have the first host nation from the Middle East.