Image: Felix Wong
Youth engagement in politics, society, and the economy is one of the most important challenges facing the United Kingdom today. We are a generation that has grown up connected to the world, but increasingly disconnected from power and therefore increasingly disenfranchised. Whether through politics, creative work, or entrepreneurship; young people today find themselves constrained by material realities that make meaningful participation in politics harder than ever.
In my view, the root cause is simple: a lack of economic security. It is difficult to feel ownership over a system when you have little stake in it, and even harder to engage with politics when your energy is spent just trying to get by.
When I started About25, a podcast born from a search for community, I did not expect to stumble into this situation, yet through conversations with dozens of young adults across the UK, I’ve come to see both the scale of the problem and the extraordinary resilience of those beneath it.
Problems with Youth Engagement
One of the core problems with youth engagement in the United Kingdom is the lack of wealth among young people. My generation is one of the poorest in over a century. This creates barriers for engagement in three key ways.
Firstly, younger generations lack the disposable income to create businesses, make art, or pursue other economically productive ventures. Fewer small businesses and artistic projects mean fewer young people are interacting with the structures of society: filing taxes, dealing with councils, collaborating with others. These activities foster a sense of ownership and investment in social institutions, which naturally encourages political engagement. Without that ownership, there’s little incentive to engage with the often complex and uninspiring machinery of local or national politics.
Secondly, financial hardship discourages civic participation altogether. Turning to those who aren’t starting businesses, it is hard even for those who just want to secure a stable job. When you’re working multiple jobs, studying, or simply trying to keep up with rising living costs, there is neither time nor energy to engage with political or community life. For many young people, even finding time to unwind is difficult, never mind researching local government or attending council meetings. As such, when securing a career, or financial stability, becomes incredibly difficult, engagement with the political system is one of the first casualties.
Finally, reduced disposable income limits access to leisure and social activities. This means fewer gigs, fewer grassroots events, fewer opportunities for leadership or collective organisation. These spaces are where civic habits are built and networks are formed, or even where political ambitions, ideas, and change are discussed. Without them, young people have fewer points of contact with institutions, fewer reasons to care about the politics that sustain them, and fewer resources to organise themselves into units of political change.
In short, a lack of economic power leads to political disconnection. When young people cannot afford to create, organise, or participate, their relationship with society becomes one of survival rather than contribution.
Why I Set Up About25
Aside from the problems of youth engagement, two years ago I started a small podcast – About 25. I did so for three reasons: to provide community, to share stories, and to meet more of my peers. Yet, what I found was the obvious reasons for a lack of political engagement.
In the beginning, my goal was to build a sense of community I personally lacked. The pandemic had made it nearly impossible to form connections at university, and by the time I graduated, I found myself facing early career challenges alone. About25 was a way to create a space where others like me could realise they weren’t alone in their fears or uncertainties.
As the podcast began to take shape, I also wanted to share the stories of passionate young people doing interesting things – whether it was artists, entrepreneurs, comedians, or young people in my own industry. At a time when many of us were still figuring out what we wanted to do, I hoped that hearing from peers who had already found some direction might help others find the spark for, or navigate, their own path.
Finally, I was simply curious. I love asking questions about people’s studies, jobs, choices, and motivations. Turning that curiosity into a podcast seemed like a natural extension of how I already approached conversations. It also gave me an excuse to meet people I admired and share what I learned with others who were just as curious.
What It Taught Me About My Generation
After speaking to over 50 people my age, I’ve learned two things: our generation is struggling deeply, yet we are remarkably resilient.
It needs to be said that this struggle is widespread. I once thought that only a small number of us were finding it difficult to secure meaningful work. I now realise it’s nearly universal. Even the most talented, hardworking people I have met have faced rejection after rejection, or have been forced into jobs they do not enjoy simply to get by. The result is a generation stretched thin while being too busy, too poor, or too isolated to engage fully in community or politics.
Despite this, however, the level of talent, creativity, and perseverance I have witnessed is extraordinary. In the face of obstacles, our peers are still building, creating, and adapting. The resilience we have been forced to develop could be a source of huge value to society. The remaining challenge is to create the economic and social conditions for this talent to finally flourish.
Conclusion
Overall, the lack of wealth and, in turn, disposable income is significantly decreasing political engagement in the UK. Decreases in disposable income decrease the number of businesses started, creative works pursued and ultimately the level of political engagement. Without young small business owners, there are less people frustrated by complexities of the tax system, and campaigning to change it. Without young artists, there is less commentary on social issues, and thus campaigns to change them.
I started About25 because the pandemic drove me in search for a community. But in doing so, I found exactly this problem, preventing young people from engaging in politics. Most people my age are sprinting just to stay still, or move forward very slowly. How can we expect young people to engage with politics when so few have stable careers, disposable income, or communities to which they belong?
About the Author
Sam Thurman is a co-founder of Tiny Ventures, an organisation dedicated to helping graduates break into venture capital. On top of this, he is also the founder of About25, a podcast dedicated to sharing the stories of graduates and junior professionals, while working as a Visiting Analyst for Eurazeo. Follow his work here.
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