Birmingham boasts Europe's youngest population, with under-25s making up nearly 40%. With challenges like mental health, technology access, and career advice quality, do residents here in Birmingham think the city offers good opportunities for its youth?
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00:00I think we could do more. I definitely think we could do more. I don't think we provide a lot of support for the youth of today.
00:08Not when you compare it to the sort of support I used to get when I was younger.
00:12There were a lot more clubs and youth initiatives when I was much younger than I am now.
00:19And I don't see evidence of any of that going on at the moment.
00:22I don't think there's enough. I think there is some. I think there could definitely be more.
00:27I'm someone who's in the performing arts and I don't feel, with that sector that I know about,
00:32that there is enough opportunities to go to a local dance or singing or acting class.
00:38A lot of my friends, when I come back home, because potentially they didn't have enough career advice here in Birmingham,
00:47they now are a bit stuck of what to do.
00:49Luckily I've had, I'm very fortunate, I've had very supportive parents that have kind of pushed me into the right path
00:54and I've followed what I want to do.
00:56I mean, off the top of my head, I couldn't tell you anything about that, to be honest.
01:01And I think that kind of says a little bit, doesn't it?
01:04If I'm not, I'm probably part of that generation. Well, I am part of that generation.
01:08And I haven't heard anything of it. So I guess that's an element to it.
01:12I mean, there probably is stuff out there. I'm just probably not educated on that.
01:15Well, basically, there's not a lot of opportunities for the kids, as you know yourself.
01:20You know, kids are running around, acting like crazy.
01:24You know how it is in Birmingham, but it is a lovely place. It's a lovely place to come to.
01:29Yeah, so I moved to Birmingham about three years ago.
01:32I think there's really good opportunities in Birmingham.
01:34You know, obviously there's challenges outside London.
01:37You know, anywhere outside of London, the regional areas, there's challenges.
01:41But I think Birmingham's really good the last few years.
01:43We actually started our own company, Study Stash, to help young people.
01:47It's an education company, and we've seen really good engagement both from schools, students,
01:51and the local council and local government.
01:54So, you know, we've seen really, really good engagement.