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Defining and choosing a user group – who do we mean by ‘young people’?

So far on this project, we have been talking about ‘young people’. But this is a broad definition.

For a start, there are millions of young people!

‘young people’ does not specify an age group. A child is anyone under the age of 18. The United Nations considers anyone between the ages of 15 – 24 a ‘youth’. But charities working with young people in the UK help young people in much more varied age ranges.

What do we mean by ‘young people?’

Then we have been asking ourselves – do we mean all young people? Or are we seeking to work with those who have specific needs, or the highest needs?

In the first phase of the My Best Life project, NPC and its partners worked with young people living in Camden, aged 18-25, facing multiple disadvantage.

As this research will inform this second phase of My Best Life, an argument for consistency is strong – that we should focus on the same group of young people – those aged 18-25, facing multiple disadvantage. Involving those from a wider geography may also generate insights.

But by doing this, are we missing a key group in need? Should we open up involvement in this project to a wider group of young people?

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