Seven problems to fix

Lilli Geissendorfer
Researcher, Young Foundation [1]

RECENTLY AT THE YOUNG FOUNDATION thinktank, we mapped out some of Britain's most pressing social needs. We pulled together official statistics, reports, interviews, and an opinion poll and identified seven categories of problems that clearly need attention. Solving them will require private and public investment, a change in the way we behave towards others, and some fresh thinking in Whitehall.

Charities will also play a major role. Already they already address most of the problems we identified - and most are in constant need of funds to see them through. If you support them, you'll be helping the problems that we summarise below, full details of which you can find in our document, "Mapping Britain's Needs (PDF file 1.6Mb) [2].

1. The poverty trap

Most poor people are affected by a combination of complex needs that means they don't have the skills to get good jobs, and so stay poor. It also means they often live in overcrowded conditions, get ill, and have problems with debt. This saps ambition, meaning that few have the energy left to make their situation any better.
See: our Society & work [2] charity overview.

2. Immigration

Though immigration can be a good thing, people-trafficking and modern slavery are big problems, especially in London. Even people who have come to Britain voluntarily often end up in dirty, dangerous and difficult jobs, while for many more the language barrier also proves a barrier to success.
See: our Human rights [2] and Homelessness [2] charity overviews.

3. Family breakdown

Parents today often have trouble keeping families together. This is especially a problem for poor people, who can't afford childcare, and sometimes these problems lead to children running away or being taken into care. These children are also more likely to be unemployed or to commit crime. At the root of these problems often lies sexual ignorance and teenage pregnancy - which are bigger problems here than in the rest of Europe.
See: our Society & work [2] charity overview; our Childrens charities [2] overview; and our Education [2] charities overview.

4. Unhappiness

There has been a measurable rise in stress and depression in recent years. Some people are lonely, depressed or bored; others are bullied, or the victims of prejudice. Unhappiness affects us all, but sustained unhappiness can be an affliction that makes other aspects of our lives worse. On top of this, government spending on mental health hasn't kept pace with demand in recent years.
See: our Health charities [2] and Society & work [2] charity overviews.

5. Unrestrained consumption

British people on the whole eat too much. This means they get more chronic illnesses - like diabetes and heart disease - but it's also part of a wider picture of damaging over-indulgence and addictions. Binge-drinking in particular can cause illness and late-night violence.
See: our Health charities [2] and Society & work [2] charity overviews.

6. Increased life expectancy

Long-term illness is expensive to treat and difficult to live with. But because of recent medical advances, more and more people are living with some form of disease. Supporting these people and ensuring they can live full lives is a growing challenge.
See: our Elderly charity [2] overview; our Hospices [2] overview; and our Health [2] charities overview.

7. Violence

For most British people, violence is something they'll experience at home. Domestic violence is the leading cause of death for women aged 19 to 44, and the abuse of elderly people is an issue charities are becoming increasingly aware of. Putting young offenders into prison often doesn't help either, since bullying is rife and there's an alarming suicide rate.
See: our Human rights [2] charities overview; our Society & work [2] charities overview; and our Elderly [2] charities overview.

> Go to the Charity chooser [2]