Titles launch ‘Project Peter Pan’ to give voice to lost housing generation

17 news titles around the UK to provide a voice for a ‘lost generation’ who can’t get on to the housing ladder in the run up to the general election

National World’s titles in its cities division are backing Project Peter Pan, which, according to a launch article, aims to use ‘our collective media power to give a voice to those in their 20s and 30s who have negotiated a pandemic, work hard and are ambitious, yet are lost.’

Reporters on titles such as the Lancashire Post, Sheffield Star, BristolWorld and DerbyWorld have been meeting and listening to young people who revealed they had delayed starting families, are moving back home in their 30s, are reliant on the bank of mum and dad, living in substandard rental properties, losing career aspirations, putting off university and facing the realities of never buying a home.

Nicola Adam, Editor in chief (north) at National World, said: “Project Peter Pan is putting aside any assumptions, generalisations, and unhelpful narratives about the generations of young adults who have had, and are having, a really hard time.

“They are the most informed as digital natives and often ambitious yet the reality of the day to day thanks to crippling costs is — unless they come from wealth — getting decent accommodation or on the property ladder remains a dream. This is just stage one of the campaign — listening — there is more to come and our National World titles intend to make a stand for the lost generations across the UK. Politicians should take heed of these crucial voices.”

The full article launch article can be read here.

Claire Lewis, editor of The Star in Sheffield, aid unless things change, the Steel City and others like it, risk losing a generation of young, aspirational young people, with so much to offer, if they are forced to move further afield to cheaper locations, just to get a foot on the housing ladder.

She said: “For Sheffield to face losing this generation because they can no longer afford to live here is something that cannot be allowed to happen.

“They are the future of our city, so for them to be priced out of the market is wrong. Sheffielders deserve to be able to live in their home city where they have grown up. And those who have moved here as students or for work and want to put down roots here should have that option too. We need to fight for this trapped generation and make housing more accessible because if we don’t do something now, it is only going to get worse.”

Paul Trainer, editor of Glasgow World, added: “Traditionally young people priced out of other cities have found a place in Glasgow but even here there are extraordinary pressures on the next generation of workers, particularly young creatives.

“The stifling of potential and lack of opportunities for young people to establish their career and enter the property market has reached a historic crisis point. Their concerns will shape the landscape of the next general election across cities in the UK.”