Students daunted by pressure of leaving home
According to a survey launched today (September 18, 2008) by online charity YouthNet, young people are facing increased pressure when leaving home for university, but many dont feel able to ask their parents for advice.
According to the research, carried out by YouGov for YouthNet, young people's experience of leaving home for the first time is often very different to that of older generations. Almost all (97%) of 18 to 24-year-old home leavers surveyed, admitted having concerns when they did, while only 64% of home leavers aged 55 and over said the same.
Money worries were the top issue for today's home leavers, with 62% of 18 to 24-year-olds surveyed saying budgeting and finance were a concern, compared to only half that number (31%) of people over 55. Other concerns cited by young people in the survey included missing family, not being good enough and not making friends.
Young people named embarrassment, shame and a fear of causing their parents concern as the reasons for not telling their parents about their worries.
Agony uncle Matt Whyman, is one of a team of experts behind YouthNet's guide to life for 16 to 24-year-olds, TheSite.org. He says: "For many people starting university this month, it'll be the first time they've lived away from home, and it can be overwhelming, not just for the young people, but for their parents too.
"Many young people feel able to talk to their parents about their worries, but there will be some who cannot – or who have questions or concerns they may find just too embarrassing to raise, and that's why it's essential that young people can turn to unbiased and trustworthy advice and information sources like TheSite.org, for help when they need it."
The research marks the launch of YouthNet's awareness and marketing campaign to let new students know about the help and advice available on TheSite.org.
ENDS
For further media information please contact Sarah Wilson at YouthNet on 020 7250 5716 or out of hours 07766 660 755. Email media@youthnet.org
Notes to Editors
- YouthNet is the UK's first exclusively online charity and was founded by Martyn Lewis CBE in 1995. It aims to create a socially inclusive environment where all young adults are engaged, informed and inspired to achieve their ambitions and dreams. YouthNet does this through two award winning websites, the online guide to life for 16 to 24-year-olds TheSite.org, and the UK's leading volunteering website, do-it.org.uk
- TheSite.org awareness campaign launched this week will see fun 'chat-up lines' postcards distributed to university student unions and advertisements in student guides, as well as online advertising and promotions aimed at all 16 to 24-year-olds who are moving into the next stage of their education.
- Matt Whyman, is a relationship advisor for askTheSite and a columnist for eve magazine. He is also a best selling novelist and advice columnist for a popular UK teenage magazine.
- askTheSite is a bespoke question and answer service available through online guide to life for 16 to 24-year-olds, TheSite.org. It provides young people with an expert, personalised, response to any question within three working days from askTheSite expert partners (Shelter, Citizens Advice, Brook, Addaction, BAS and SANE) as well as a team of volunteer trained peer advisors and professional agony aunts (Matt Whyman, Christine Webber, Andrea Scherzer, Hilary Freeman and Melissa Roske) The askTheSite service answers around 700 questions each month. Relationship advice is the most popular subject, followed by sexual health
- The research of 2092 respondents was carried out by YouGov Plc between 4th and 8th September 2008, as part of an online omnibus. For a copy of the research, contact Sarah Wilson, YouthNet Media and PR Manager on 020 7250 5716 or email media@youthNet.org