Understanding Society has published its Insights report for 2026, which this year looks at evidence on children and young people’s life chances.
Last year, the government announced its five missions, one of which was Break Down Barriers to Opportunity. The new Insights report sifts through the latest evidence on our life chances, including research on early years funding, regional inequalities, inheritances, and poverty. It also considers how background can shape not just our chances of achieving what we wish for, but also the nature of what we wish for.
The final chapter sets out specific policies suggested by the evidence which could transform children’s and young people’s lives, such as:
- early childhood support, especially in deprived communities
- investment in extra-curricular activities
- more pathways to training
- extending free school meals
- help with the housing ladder.
Raj Patel, Understanding Society’s Associate Director, Policy and Partnerships, says: “Our recommendations are far reaching and, in some cases, politically or operationally challenging. But the report makes a compelling case that we are a facing a major generational challenge with long-term consequences. Tackling inequality of opportunity, and significantly weakening the tie to destiny, is not simply a matter of knowing what works, and doing it. We have to understand audience, engagement and place – what is working, where, and for whom.”
Understanding Society, the UK Household Longitudinal Study, is the largest longitudinal study of its kind, and is led by a team of experts at the Institute for Social and Economic Research at the University of Essex.
Capturing life in the UK in the 21st century, Understanding Society is the largest longitudinal household panel study of its kind and provides vital evidence on life changes and stability.
We follow our participants over a long period of time, giving us a long-term perspective on people’s lives. As a longitudinal study, Understanding Society helps us explore how life in the UK is changing and what stays the same over many years.
Read Barriers to Opportunity: Understanding Society Insights 2026 here
We are a household panel study, interviewing everyone in a household to see how different generations experience life in the UK. The Study helps us find out about parents and children, siblings, new family formation and our wider family and community links.