I've been watching recent coverage of CYP needs during COVID-19 and thinking about how some of this connects to what teenagers told us about lockdown in @theTELLstudy. The full report is still in writing, but I wanted to share thoughts on how findings link to current concerns. 1/

Increasing commentary of local spikes being somewhat due to young people breaking rules. I don't know the truth of this, but it seems they are an easy scapegoat, and this commentary overlooks that young people are not a homogeneous group. In @theTELLstudy teenagers told us... 2/

They felt YP had sacrificed a lot for the pandemic. They've lost control over their futures because of exams, they're missing out on rites of passage and normative experiences. Most importantly - they were sad about it, but ultimately recognised that these were important... 3/

... sacrifies for a "greater good". Our talk should be respectful of how much we have asked children and young people to give up these last six months. This can also be helpful in encouraging adherence in local lockdowns - reminding everyone, inc CYP, of the greater good. 4/

BUT we must also consider how CYP are part of our greater good. Calls for pubs to close so schools can re-open are logical. Frankly, CYP have a right to education before we have a right to a pint and a good old time down the local. 5/

In @theTELLstudy our participants told us they were afraid of going back to education in September. Many did not trust the government to make decisions with them in mind, and to do things that could keep them safe. At this point, I do not disagree with those fears. 6/

Sure, there's the economic argument - pubs etc. being open is a boost. But you know what's bad for the economy? The most vulnerable CYP in our society not having access to the things they need for over six months - we may not see the immediate impact of that, but it's coming. 7/

Ultimately we need to start making sure our decisions are made with CYP in mind - particularly the most vulnerable - and we need to see talks with CYP to make that happen effectively and meaningfully (see the #iwill campaign). 8/8