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UK far down youth wellbeing table UK ranked low on youth wellbeing
(about 9 hours later)
A table of young people's wellbeing in 29 European states - the EU plus Norway and Iceland - has ranked Britain 24th. A table of young people's wellbeing in 29 European states - the EU plus Norway and Iceland - has ranked the UK 24th.
The Netherlands was top while only Romania, Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania and Malta came lower than the UK.The Netherlands was top while only Romania, Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania and Malta came lower than the UK.
The table, about youngsters aged up to 19, was compiled by York University researchers for the Child Poverty Action Group using mostly 2006 data.The table, about youngsters aged up to 19, was compiled by York University researchers for the Child Poverty Action Group using mostly 2006 data.
The government commented that its policies were lifting more than a million children out of poverty.The government commented that its policies were lifting more than a million children out of poverty.
The researchers assessed the countries on 43 separate measures, ranging from infant mortality and obesity to material resources - like poverty and housing.The researchers assessed the countries on 43 separate measures, ranging from infant mortality and obesity to material resources - like poverty and housing.
Also included were how children felt about their lives, schools and relationships. name="text"> Also included were how children felt about their lives, schools and relationships.
CATEGORIES healthsubjective wellbeingrelationshipsmaterial resourcesbehaviour and riskeducationhousing and environment href="#table"> Overall ranking CATEGORIES healthsubjective wellbeingrelationshipsmaterial resourcesbehaviour and riskeducationhousing and environment href="#table">Overall ranking class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=6366">Send us your comments
Feeling pressured by schoolwork, for example, fed into the measurement of "subjective wellbeing".Feeling pressured by schoolwork, for example, fed into the measurement of "subjective wellbeing".
The study suggests little improvement since a similar report by Unicef two years ago, BBC correspondent James Westhead said.The study suggests little improvement since a similar report by Unicef two years ago, BBC correspondent James Westhead said.
The Netherlands led overall and was also in the upper third of the table in each area. Scandinavian countries dominated.The Netherlands led overall and was also in the upper third of the table in each area. Scandinavian countries dominated.
The UK's rank of 24th was well below the position which might be expected given its affluence, the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) report said.The UK's rank of 24th was well below the position which might be expected given its affluence, the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) report said.
WorklessWorkless
Britain's best score, 15th, was in children's relationships - including how easy they say they find it to talk to their parents and get on with their classmates.Britain's best score, 15th, was in children's relationships - including how easy they say they find it to talk to their parents and get on with their classmates.
On material resources, the UK was 24th out of the 26 countries for which data was available.On material resources, the UK was 24th out of the 26 countries for which data was available.
"The UK position is particularly influenced by the high number of children living in families where no parent works. Only Lithuania and Poland do worse," said the report."The UK position is particularly influenced by the high number of children living in families where no parent works. Only Lithuania and Poland do worse," said the report.
CPAG is not arguing against government policy focusing on income growth for the poorest families and the impact of public services.CPAG is not arguing against government policy focusing on income growth for the poorest families and the impact of public services.
But it says the current recession means many families are threatened with rapid income falls.But it says the current recession means many families are threatened with rapid income falls.
"There is nothing inevitable about the UK doing badly on child wellbeing," it says."There is nothing inevitable about the UK doing badly on child wellbeing," it says.
"The challenge should be to reverse this situation and put children front and centre of policy making.""The challenge should be to reverse this situation and put children front and centre of policy making."
Looking beyond 2010, the charity has a series of recommendations:Looking beyond 2010, the charity has a series of recommendations:
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  • >Protect jobs, remove barriers to work such as unsuitable and expensive childcare.
  • >Mend the "safety net" which it says leaves many families struggling well below the official poverty line.
  • >Drop means tests in favour of universal benefits such as child benefit.
  • >Stop in-work poverty from low wages.
  • >End the "classroom divide" in which children growing up in poverty have lower attainment.
  • >Provide fair public services for those who need them most.
  • >End "poverty premiums" which mean poor families pay more for basic goods, utilities and services and more of their income in taxes.
  • >Ensure a decent home for every family.
    >
  • Protect jobs, remove barriers to work such as unsuitable and expensive childcare.
  • Mend the "safety net" which it says leaves many families struggling well below the official poverty line.
  • Drop means tests in favour of universal benefits such as child benefit.
  • Stop in-work poverty from low wages.
  • End the "classroom divide" in which children growing up in poverty have lower attainment.
  • Provide fair public services for those who need them most.
  • End "poverty premiums" which mean poor families pay more for basic goods, utilities and services and more of their income in taxes.
  • Ensure a decent home for every family.
CPAG says that as most of the data in the report is from three years ago - which is not unusual in international comparisons - many recent government policy initiatives are not fully reflected.CPAG says that as most of the data in the report is from three years ago - which is not unusual in international comparisons - many recent government policy initiatives are not fully reflected.
"The figures should therefore be read as a criticism of UK society, but not necessarily of recent social policy," it stresses."The figures should therefore be read as a criticism of UK society, but not necessarily of recent social policy," it stresses.
England's children's minister, Beverley Hughes, added that the fact that a government department had been created to focus on children, schools and families showed the increased importance being given to children.England's children's minister, Beverley Hughes, added that the fact that a government department had been created to focus on children, schools and families showed the increased importance being given to children.
"Our Children's Plan is our long term vision and it puts children and families at the centre of everything government does," she said."Our Children's Plan is our long term vision and it puts children and families at the centre of everything government does," she said.
"Our policies have lifted 600,000 children out of poverty and halved absolute poverty. Policies announced in the last two years will lift around a further 500,000 children out of poverty."Our policies have lifted 600,000 children out of poverty and halved absolute poverty. Policies announced in the last two years will lift around a further 500,000 children out of poverty.
"We are very proud that the majority of our children are happy and do well but in those cases where children and their families face problems, we will continue to invest in high quality services which provide the vital help and support that they need.""We are very proud that the majority of our children are happy and do well but in those cases where children and their families face problems, we will continue to invest in high quality services which provide the vital help and support that they need."
The CPAG report follows a BBC Newsround survey of 1,000 children around the UK.The CPAG report follows a BBC Newsround survey of 1,000 children around the UK.
Many were worried about money, bullying and knife crime - but most nevertheless said they were happy.Many were worried about money, bullying and knife crime - but most nevertheless said they were happy.
Overall rankingOverall ranking
1 Netherlands 2 Sweden 3 Norway 4 Iceland 5 Finland 6 Denmark 7 Slovenia 8 Germany 9 Ireland 10 Luxembourg 11 Austria 12 Cyprus 13 Spain 14 Belgium 15 France 16 Czech Republic 17 Slovakia 18 Estonia 19 Italy 20 Poland 21 Portugal 22 Hungary 23 Greece 24 United Kingdom 25 Romania 26 Bulgaria 27 Latvia 28 Lithuania 29 Malta1 Netherlands 2 Sweden 3 Norway 4 Iceland 5 Finland 6 Denmark 7 Slovenia 8 Germany 9 Ireland 10 Luxembourg 11 Austria 12 Cyprus 13 Spain 14 Belgium 15 France 16 Czech Republic 17 Slovakia 18 Estonia 19 Italy 20 Poland 21 Portugal 22 Hungary 23 Greece 24 United Kingdom 25 Romania 26 Bulgaria 27 Latvia 28 Lithuania 29 Malta
Source: Child Poverty Action GroupSource: Child Poverty Action Group
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