The survey of more than 2,000 seven- to 15-year-olds in England, Scotland and Wales revealed that 38 per cent liked to spend their time on the street, while only 10 per cent preferred youth clubs.
When asked what they liked best about being on the street, 64 per cent of the children said 'being with friends', while 14 per cent identified 'the freedom to do what I want'. However, they were also concerned about the presence of gangs and people who were drunk or using drugs.
The vast majority (71 per cent) of children said that they would like more play and leisure facilities nearer to their homes. They highlighted a range of facilities that they would like to see in their local area, with football pitches, swimming pools, skateboarding parks and places to hang out - including what some teenagers called 'chill-out' rooms - among the most popular requests.
The findings echo research carried out by Kids' Clubs Network (KCN) last year. It found that 90 per cent of parents and young people would welcome a local out-of-school club that would provide a safe place for them to spend time with their friends and take part in sport and other activities, offering them the freedom to choose how to spend time in a secure environment.
KCN's Make Space campaign aims to create a network of such clubs for people aged 11 to 16. For more information visit the website www.makespace.org.uk
or contact 020 7522 6960.
