Young people without family support face housing and cost pressures
A follow-up report hears from young people without the bank of mum and dad who are struggling with rent, bills and job hunting as the cost of living stays high.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Young people without family support are facing mounting housing and cost of living pressures, a follow-up report has found.
Earlier this summer, the same reporting found that more than 40% of 25-year-olds now live with their parents, which was described as the toughest start to adulthood for half a century. Hundreds of viewers got in touch after that coverage. The latest report looks at those who do not have the option of the bank of mum and dad.
Eleanor was one of those who made contact. She was taken into care at the age of 10. After a lot of hard graft, she got a first-class degree from the University of Lancashire. She is now job hunting and living in her boyfriend's house. She said the playing field was not level when she was a child and is still not level because other people are supported by their parents. She used the image of a chair lift: some people get a lift, while she has to walk. She wants to be independent but says looking for the right job feels like hitting a wall. She got in touch because she did not know who else to go to, and realised she was not the only one.
Eski's experience shows how quickly costs can spiral. She lost her job after illness last year. She said she was putting herself into arrears and debt because she could not afford her bills. At one point, £300 was not covering practically any of her bills. Her family is far away, so she did not have a support network around her. Her parents are struggling financially too.
The report also points to wider pressure on young adults:
- Citizens Advice says more and more 20-somethings are turning to it for help.
- The government says it is investing £2.5bn to create opportunities for young people to earn or learn.
- Older people sometimes say young people are not ambitious enough or not striving hard enough, but the report says many are desperate for work and support and have nowhere to turn.
Those without a bank of mum and dad are no longer just struggling to buy a home, the report says. They are struggling to cover life's essentials.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC One |
|---|---|
| Citizens Advice reported that more people in their 20s are seeking help because of debt, the cost of living and jobs. | |
| Over 40% of 25-year-olds are living in their parents' home. | |
| The government said it is investing £2.5 billion to create opportunities for young people to earn or learn. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
BBC ONE West used the follow-up to put people without the bank of mum and dad at the centre of the cost of living story. Its tone was sympathetic and personal, with care leaver Eleanor and Eski illustrating unequal support and financial precarity. It balanced their accounts with the government's £2.5bn skills investment and Citizens Advice's warning about rising demand from 20-somethings.
- “It's unfair on me, it's unfair on my parents.”
- “The playing field wasn't level as a kid and now you find out that it's kind of still not level, because people are still being supported by their parents.”
- “Those without a bank of mum and dad are no longer just struggling to buy a home, but to cover life's essentials.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.