Social Housing Sector: Youth Engagement

This report presents the findings of a Tenants Information Service (TIS) study, focused on the barriers that affect the success of youth engagement, whilst highlighting good practice that others can learn from.

A demographic that is often under-represented in tenant participation and engagement practices is young tenants. Establishing meaningful opportunities to increase youth engagement in housing and wider community services remains an ongoing challenge.

In its research, this study considers:

• Participation options available for young tenants to get involved with their housing organisation.
• Training opportunities available for young tenants to develop skills, knowledge, and reach their full potential in order to participate confidently in meaningful youth engagement activities.
• The impact of Covid-19 and any challenges or opportunities, specific to engaging young tenants, that emerged as a result of the pandemic.
• The barriers housing organisations face when making efforts to engage young tenants.
• Good practice examples that others can learn from.

Young tenants are typically recognised throughout the social housing sector as 16-24 – however, for the purposes of this study, research extends to the age of 34.