The Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) has published the final findings from its annual Children, violence and vulnerability research. The YEF surveyed nearly 11,000 13- to 17-year-olds in England and Wales about their experiences of violence. This report focuses on teenage children’s experiences of exploitation and gangs. Findings include: in the past year, one in eight teenage children were asked to sell drugs, transport drugs, or store drugs, weapons or money; 7.5% were either criminally exploited, frequently missing from home or in a ‘gang’; criminally exploited teens were 18 times more likely to face serious violence; and adverse home environments were also associated with increased risk.
Read the report: Exploitation and gangs
Source: Youth Endowment Fund
Date published: 16 December 2025
