Inquiry seeks views on how cost of living affects young people's wellbeing

The committee, which consists of 12 young people aged between 13 and 18, is seeking views through written evidence submissions, to learn about how the cost-of-living crisis has impacted the health and wellbeing of young people.

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The consultation is open to the public but will also draw from sector professionals that have been asked to participate, including those involved with charities and businesses. The committee is also keen to hear from marginalised communities and those from lower income backgrounds.

Dev Sharma, chair of the youth select committee, said: “Hearing people’s thoughts and opinions is the first step towards understanding the scale and complexity of the cost of living and its impact on young people’s health.

“The committee looks forward to collecting views and research from a wide range of contributors, so we can shape testimonies into recommendations that will have a positive impact on the lives of young people across the UK."

Written submissions will be taken through the committee’s online portal, which will close on 8 September. Following this, the committee will hear from various witnesses on 15 and 22 September in parliament.

The inquiry was launched in May this year, and is set to run for eight months, with the committee being supported by the House of Commons and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.  

This comes after the UK Youth Parliament’s Make Youth Mark ballot last year found that health and wellbeing was the highest priority issue for young people, with half a million respondents saying it was their biggest concern.

Members of the UK Youth Parliament, which fallls under the BYC banner, voted to focus their 2022/23 campaign on the cost of living and health following this ballot, with the topics receiving 102 of the 236 votes cast at its House of Commons sitting.