New local research reveals top worries for children and young people in Harrow

Read the full report here: https://youngharrowfoundation....

This is Harrow brings together the latest research and insights from Harrow Council, NHS, Police and community organisations. It also includes the 6,800 surveys conducted with children and young people through the HAY Harrow survey conducted across 28 schools and colleges.

This is Harrow found that areas of need fall into four categories – they are Poverty, Safety, Mental Health and Physical Health.

Findings include:

• 17% of young people worry about their family running out of food (this rises to 19% for children in year 5& 6 at primary school)

• 5% are currently self-harming

• 11% of young people aged 14-18 consider themselves to have been the victim of sexual harassment.

• 39.6% of children in year 6 (10-11yrs) in Harrow are overweight or obese – higher than the average for England (37.8%)

• 74% of young people sometimes or often feel anxious or nervous sometimes or often

The report also found there are particular groups of young people that are consistently struggling more than others, these include the LGBTQ+ community, Russian and Ukrainian children here in Harrow, children with SEND, and young people with caring responsibilities.

Within a month of This is Harrow being released, a group of organisations have come together in a new partnership called The Change Makers. They have given out an initial £225k in grants to 21 local charities working with children and young people in Harrow.

The organisations in the partnership include Young Harrow Foundation, Harrow Borough Based Partnership, John Lyon’s Charity, ES Broadcast, Harrow School and Deo Duce Foundation.

Programmes they have funded include self-harm support, support around neuro diversity, working with refugees from Russia, Ukraine and Afghanistan, young carer programmes, mental health and fitness programmes, and much more.

Read more about the Change Makers partnership, and the projects they have funded, here: https://youngharrowfoundation....

Dan Burke, CEO of Young Harrow Foundation, said “We know these are areas young people are struggling with - time and time again they keep coming up. This is Harrow has helped us understand more deeply, some of the specific things local children are struggling with. It means we have to do better and be accountable as a community working with children and young people.

We are committed to working with the local charity sector and organisations, like those under the Change Maker Partnership, to fund projects that help those that most need it. We’ve started with an initial £225k boost, and we’re working hard to unlock more over the next year.”

Councillor Hitesh Karia, Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services at Harrow Council, said: “We welcome the findings of this report and are committed to doing everything we can to support the wellbeing of our young residents. We are mindful and aware of some of the struggles young people face in Harrow and this research is important in getting a closer understanding of the concerns that matter to our young Harrow residents. We will utilise the details to forge a closer relationship with our partners in the community to continue to help those most in need and give children and young people the best start in life and adulthood.”

Young Harrow also works with Harrow Council to run the Holiday Activities Programme in Harrow in every school holiday in Harrow – where children on free school meals are provided free access to local clubs and activities which include a free meal every day. Find out more at https://youngharrowfoundation....