“Life Changed So Quickly”: Major New Research Reveals Pandemic’s Profound Impact on Children and Young People

The UK Covid-19 Inquiry has published groundbreaking research after hearing directly from 600 children and young people aged 9-22, revealing a multitude of profound, distressing and life-altering ways the pandemic affected them.

The report, a product of the largest child interview-led research exercise ever undertaken by a UK public inquiry, is published ahead of four weeks of public hearings for the Inquiry’s Module 8 investigation which start on Monday 29 September 2025.

The hundreds of children and young people’s testimonies captured in the brand new Children and Young People’s Voices research report reveal how the pandemic had a profound impact and long-lasting effect on their lives. Many describe both the devastating consequences of illness and lockdowns as well as unearthing remarkable examples of resilience.

The Inquiry has enabled 600 children and young people to share their experiences of living through the pandemic. Participants, now aged 9 to 22, were between 5 and 18 years old during that unique period. Many recalled living through an “empty time” of lockdown, when normal routines and young people’s fundamentally important milestones simply disappeared. Others described carrying a “weight of responsibility” as they took on extremely challenging caring roles and responsibilities within their homes.

Further experiences include:

• Some experienced arguing with family members or witnessed tension between adults, meaning home was not a safe or supportive place to be confined to during lockdown
• Limited device access and space to work at home made pandemic learning particularly challenging
• Some spoke of frustration or anger at missing out on milestones such as the end of primary school or post-exam celebrations
• Others recalled their experiences of exam cancellations, including frustrations about the grades they were awarded – the research includes instances where young people felt less able or inclined to go to university
• Secondary school-aged young people developed worries around body image and appearance, with some accessing mental health services for the first time
• Physically disabled children and those with health conditions described feelings of uncertainty, fear and anxiety about catching Covid-19 and its serious implications, particularly around returning to school and college environments where they felt vulnerable and exposed
• Those bereaved during the pandemic faced difficulties when restrictions prevented seeing loved ones before death or mourning normally

While many children and young people faced significant challenges, the research also captured resilience, positive experiences and things that helped them cope during the pandemic including:

• Children described how friends, family and wider communities helped them through the pandemic, with trusted conversations providing invaluable support during struggles
• Children described consciously protecting their wellbeing by doing positive activities like getting fresh air, exercising, spending time with pets, or escapist entertainment
• Being able to do rewarding activities helped children cope with boredom and feel motivated, including developing skills and discovering new passions