Viewfinder is a window on youths' lives

IT WAS a chance for the youth of Edinburgh to make their voices heard – and they responded in their thousands. An incredible 18,000 to be exact.

The result is one of the most detailed surveys ever produced of what it means to be young in Edinburgh, and it exposes huge inequalities between groups of youngsters across the Capital.

It also shows that they worry much more about safety issues and get involved in less sport or social activities than the city average.

The Viewfinder 3 report, which was compiled by researchers Ipsos Mori for council-backed youth strategy group Young Edinburgh, surveyed a mix of people aged 11 to 21 from a range of social backgrounds. It found that the responses of those from black and minority groups (BME), disabled people and deprived areas of Edinburgh differed significantly from the city average.

Nancy Henderson, service planning manager for the council's children and families department, said: "Specifically in relation to education, safety, health, leisure opportunities and overall quality of life, young people from deprived areas and equalities groups report fewer positive experiences and more concerns than their counterparts."

Across the city, about four in five young people said they agreed that the Capital was a "great" place to be young, but when responses from only those whose first language at home is not English are analysed, the figure falls to only 60 per cent.

They were also less likely to say that they learned – or had learnt – much at school.

Disabled people, young carers and BME respondents were the three groups who said they would like to have more help with their homework.

Health worries were more prominent among minority and deprived groups, while two in every five people from deprived areas said that they worried about drugs – nearly 10 per cent higher than the city average. Alcohol and smoking concerns were also more common for them than the city average.

John Loughton, community activist and former Scottish Youth Parliament chair, said: "It is clear that we still steward a society where children and young people growing up in the most disadvantaged areas, or indeed marginalised minorities, are far less content with the lives and the environment in which they grow up. At such a transient time in someone's life, where forming opinions, moral codes, intellect and life ambitions are inevitable, we must clearly do more to close the gap and ensure that Edinburgh is a city that can service all its young people. Too many young people have lost hope and see no future for themselves. What is now needed is public-sector commitment, greater joined-up local working and investment in key sectors such as youth work.

"This report is a prime example of the power and value of listening to young people's voices; let's now hear their views and act."

Only 55 per cent of people from the more deprived areas said they like the area in which they live, compared to 83 per cent of people in the least deprived areas.

Other key findings included that people in poorer areas were much more likely to see litter lying around, vandalism, graffiti and fire-raising than the city average.

Councillor Marilyne MacLaren, the city's education leader, said: "We use Viewfinder to listen to young people's views and help us target support where it is needed.

"The survey shows us that the majority of young people think that Edinburgh is a great place to be, but we know that some groups are less likely to agree with this. It is a big priority for us to improve learning and development opportunities for these particular groups whilst encouraging further representation through student councils, the Scottish Youth Parliament and the new local youth forums.

"We have a dedicated team to do just that and I am confident that we are making real improvements to the lives of young people."

'There are worse places to grow up'

Liam Flockhart, 17, lives in Lochend and is a retail trainee. "Being a teenager here you're a target for violence from other teenagers. You have different areas and people fight for their area, Niddrie and Leith fight each other, for example. You know where the better areas are – in Restalrig you have less chance of getting started on and Niddrie, Muirhouse and Pilton are all really bad places to be brought up."

Lauren Newsone, 16, from Granton, is on a Get Ready For Work Course: "In Granton there are bits that are rough, but the bit I grew up in was fine. There's quite a lot of division, it's quite noticeable in Edinburgh. Some places in Wester Hailes and Niddrie are not so good, there's places where a lot of violence and stuff happens. But I feel quite safe."

Aimee Colquhoun, 16, from the Grassmarket, is studying introduction to law at Currie Community High School and Stevenson College: "I love staying here, there's so much to do, you've got the shops and in Hunter Square there's a wee social get-together. I've been to places like Falkirk and they're really quiet and boring.

"I think it's very different depending where you grow up. I think being in the Grassmarket's a bonus – I lived in Wester Hailes for 14 years. I think school was good, there were lots of clubs, like swimming and they do activities."

Frankie Duncan, 15, from Craigmillar, goes to Castlebrae Community High School: "There are worse places to grow up. Edinburgh city centre is quite good, it's got good services, buses and things. Craigmillar's started getting a lot of redevelopment which is making it better. It's starting to get new buildings, new houses, new people. There's nothing about school that I don't like particularly – it's all right."