"The Young and Black report exposes the true nature of what it is like to be a young Black person growing up in the UK today.
The narrative of this report shows the shocking, depressing and frank nature of what it is like to be young and Black. Over 500 people shared their experiences with us and it is safe to say that society has not progressed as far as what the activists that came before us would have hoped.
The report highlights that this is not just the action of individuals but it is institutions themselves that are perpetuating a culture of prejudice, discrimination and exclusivity.
YMCA is the oldest and largest youth charity in the world and we have played our part in the Black History movement here in the UK. From housing the first of the Windrush generation and being the founding place of ‘The League of Coloured Peoples’ in 1931, to today where we keep inclusivity at the heart of what we do. It is time to turn the marches and banners into real long-term systemic change and that is what we hope this report will do."
Adele, Bose, Emily, Noel
Members of the YMCA Youth Advisory Group / YMCA England & Wales
In this report, YMCA England & Wales combines qualitative and quantitative data obtained through focus groups and a survey investigating young Black people’s experiences of institutional racism in the UK.
The Report is available in pdf format here.
