London, December 13, 2025
UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has announced the first national youth strategy in 15 years aimed at tackling the isolation and vulnerabilities faced by young people, accusing decades of political neglect manifesting as \”violent indifference\” toward this demographic. The initiative addresses social tensions intensified by digital harms and institutional mistrust.
Political Indifference and Youth Vulnerability
Nandy condemned the longstanding disregard by the political establishment for youth issues, describing it as a “violent indifference” that has contributed to a generation struggling with isolation despite living in a digitally connected world. Speaking in a Guardian interview and subsequent public addresses, she linked this neglect to the erosion of communal trust, citing cuts and disregard for services critical to young people’s well-being such as youth clubs, local high streets, arts, sports, and transport infrastructure.
National Youth Strategy and Digital Safety
The newly unveiled national youth strategy aims to reverse the decades-long void in coordinated government policy. It focuses on strengthening youth services, protecting young people from online harms, and instituting stronger policing of digital spaces through new legislation. Nandy emphasized the government’s pledge that issues affecting young people’s daily lives will now be taken seriously, signaling an end to the era of political indifference.
Context of Broader Social Tensions
This announcement comes amid a backdrop of social unrest, including riots, political violence, and debates around national unity. At the Royal Television Society’s Cambridge Convention and other forums, Nandy highlighted recent events such as the shooting of a US activist, arson attacks on MPs’ offices, large protests, and racially motivated attacks on police. She argued that media coverage should focus on ordinary people’s rejection of violence and promote unity, countering divisive narratives emanating from societal fractures.
Media and Institutional Trust
Nandy called for the media and cultural institutions, including the BBC and creative industries, to play a proactive role in restoring trust by accurately representing community resilience and exposing systemic injustices. She referenced journalism milestones such as investigative reports on Hillsborough and the Birmingham Six to exemplify the media’s potential in rebuilding faith in public institutions.
The national youth strategy represents a significant government commitment to addressing the complex challenges facing young people in Britain today. Its success will rely on cross-sector cooperation and sustained attention to community-level needs as the country navigates pressing debates about social cohesion, violence, and institutional reform.