Almost nine in ten youth charities say demand has increased for support, amid fears around young people’s worsening mental health.

A survey has found that 86% of charities that support young people say that demand has increased among 18–24-year-olds.

A similar proportion (88%) say declining mental wellbeing among this group of young people is a major factor in the increased demand for help.

The cost of living crisis is impacting on young people’s need to access charity support and their wellbeing, the survey suggests. More than three quarters (78%) believe that more young people than ever are facing challenging decisions around eating or keeping clean.

The findings have emerged in a survey by consumer product donation organisation In Kind Direct among 320 charities.

A representative of YMCA Wellington, who is among those who took part in the survey, said that “many of our young women are on just £57 a week and have to make a choice between buying sanitary products or food”.

Earlier this week a survey of community organisations by Locality also highlighted growing pressures on charity services. It found that six in ten charities say demand rose as the UK recovers from the Covid pandemic.

An indication of increasing pressures on youth charities in particular emerged earlier this year when BBC Children in Need closed the first round of applications to the government’s £10m package of government funding it is managing “due to significant demand”.

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