From being understood to the price of Dr Pepper: Young people share their biggest issues

Lexi is 13 and from Dagenham. For the Big Issue’s Young Team Takeover, she went out to gather thoughts and opinions from her friends about what their most important issues are. Here’s what she found…

My own big issue is when people change plans last minute when they know that I don’t like changing plans because it annoys me and just makes me feel very overstimulated when I don’t, like, have a routine for the day and it gets changed!

Being a teenager is pretty tricky and there are plenty of big issues to deal with, but I don’t think young people are listened to enough.

So I wanted to ask the people in my Youth Zone (Barking and Dagenham) what their big issue is and how it could be fixed.

Lillian, 14

What is your big issue?
My big issue is when friends don’t keep secrets and that’s because you lose trust and loads of, like, drama happens, and no one wants that so I just don’t like it, you know?

Shanaya, 15

What is your big issue?
My big issue is that Dr Pepper is too expensive ’cause in shops it’s £1.35 for a bottle but it’s 80p for a can!

Calvin, 16

What is your big issue?
Character development for young people. Young people can come to Youth Zone, study their craft and figure out what they are good at. My big idea is to use my music to empower people and tell them to follow their dreams.

Charlie, 18

What is your big issue?
Some people in Dagenham, getting on your nerves, in the station. Honestly, no matter what you do, the way you look at them, your presence just annoys some people.

Codie, 10

What is your big issue?
My sister.

Courtnie-rae, 11

What is your big issue?
People at school, they don’t understand you. When students do something to you and the adults don’t see it and then they believe the other student that’s done it to you. That gets me frustrated.

Gustas, 17

What is your big issue?
My big issue is I think that school needs to be a little more safe because some teachers are sometimes very strict, but I think what we need is a bit more like… nice teachers so we feel safe at school when we feel worried about anything.

Kyle, 13

What is your big issue?
My biggest issue is Marvel and DC ’cause they used to make good films and now they just make bad films.

Michelle, 14

What is your big issue?
My big issue is that there aren’t enough Youth Zones in our local area because young people need a place to go outside of school that is safe and gives them something to do.

Ryan, 16

What is your big issue?
My big issue is how much of an influence politics has on society because of how it’s dividing people.

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