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Four years ago, the world as we knew it changed almost overnight. With the COVID pandemic came a series of government mandated lockdowns here in the UK. The COVID lockdowns were unlike anything most of us had ever experienced before — we entered a phase of working, learning and socialising from home. With four years of hindsight from the first lockdown, it's becoming clear that the lockdowns had a serious impact both mentally and physically on us all — but it seems that young people may have been more affected than anyone.
New research from the National Trust has found that more than half of young people feel that their education was negatively impacted by lockdown, with many citing notable gaps in their education. The research, which was conducted as part of the National Trust’s Time + Space Award, examined the impact of the lockdowns on 16 to 25 year-olds — and while it found examples of many such negative side effects of being cooped up inside during the pandemic, it also found several examples of how the lockdowns affected young people in a positive way, too.
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In fact, while 30% of young people claimed that lockdown changed them for the worse, 44% believe it changed them for the better. Young people have cited things like money awareness, new hobbies and clear goals as some of the more positive outcomes of being locked down. Now, four years later, it seems that many young people are still living with the new habits and mindsets they picked up during the lockdowns: a majority (66%) have kept up their hobbies, for instance.
In spite of these positive outcomes, 70% of young people agreed that “more could [still] be done to assist them in coping with the effects of the lockdown”.
It's clear that the lockdowns were complicated for young people, leaving them with both positive and negative takeaways. We spoke to a few of the young people involved in the Time + Space award about their experiences.
Iben, 15 when pandemic begun
"I think one of the most precious things to come out of that March lockdown sunshine was how much more I valued our family garden. Being able to catch the rays, eating all meals outside, and finishing puzzles and books under birdsong. My connection with and appreciation for that space really strengthened. After limits were put in place for how long we were allowed to be outside, I grew even more attached. We made that space our own in lockdown, with strawberry plants, a wildflower conversion, and more birdhouses.
“I recognise that this experience of lockdown is one of immense privilege, including my ease of access to such wonderful green spaces. This frame of my experience should not minimise the difficulty and immense struggle of the pandemic. I am determined to live in a future where access to green spaces is equitable. The service of well-being and healing power nature grants us is so precious, and I think I was lucky to discover that during lockdown. This falls somewhat short of Newton‘s discovery in his pandemic, but I see some parallels in the freedom of time that initial lockdown granted me four years ago, and him 357 years ago. In how gravity revealed itself to Newton, nature revealed itself to me.”
Charlotte, 21 when pandemic started
"By 2020, I was working in Boots, training as a Pharmacy Advisor (taking exams to advise customers on over-the-counter medications and dispensing prescriptions), all while doing a full-time MA — so an already stressful time. It was clear early in 2020 that something was causing a stir — people were suddenly asking daily where they could buy face masks, hand sanitiser became gold dust, and people were stockpiling paracetamol or Calpol!
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“I won't sugarcoat it; it was, at times, extremely stressful and has had a lasting impact on my mental health (I suffer badly from anxiety as a result), and some people were very rude when we were doing our best. Still, in a time of madness and hopelessness, the genuine acts of kindness I saw felt more prominent, and I still felt like I had a purpose — going to work every day and being able to give back to my community. Examples: the local Waitrose donating their unsold Mother's Day bouquets to the pharmacy, a customer writing me a poem to say thanks when I would deliver her prescriptions after work and just kind words. Alongside this, through my Masters, I was able to support the Heritage Open Days festival, during which cultural and historical venues open their doors for free for a period each year, by logging events on their website. This was a really important opportunity for me, and one I might not have been able to find the time to do without lockdown – and ultimately it led to me getting my current job.
“The pandemic was very stressful, but there were moments of brightness and possibilities. It showed me the true importance of community spirit and led me to get into an area of work I am so passionate about. The moments of light were also possible thanks to the support of those around me, the occasional G&T in the garden after work in the unseasonably nice weather and the weekly virtual dinner dates with my partner.”
Daisy, 22 when pandemic began
"Strangely, the first Covid lockdown came at a perfect time for me, especially mentally. I remember one day in February 2020, where I’d made no plans and went nowhere, and thought, 'I need to slow down, I could do with a week or two of this' – looking back now, I was on a path to burn out.
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"When the lockdown was first announced, I worked at home for a week before being furloughed. I was lodging with a friend in a country village at the time, so I spent the next two months really taking some time for myself, for the first time in years. With the help of my friend and Youtube, I learned how to crochet – initially to learn a skill for 6 months for my Duke of Edinburgh Award, but 4 years later I’m still crocheting! I found that it gave me a creative outlet to focus on when the only other way I was spending my time was going for a walk, having a weekly adventure to Tesco, or watching tv – it made me feel like I wasn’t wasting my days.
“The next couple of lockdowns weren’t as easy for me as the first for various reasons. However, the main positive I gained from all of the lockdowns was the realisation of how important it is to slow down and take time for myself. I wasn’t so good at that before, but I’m so much more conscious of it now. After having to change roles in late 2020, 6 months ago I finally managed to get another full-time Visitor Experience role within the National Trust, and it’s definitely taken time to adjust. This time, however, I can spot when I’m getting worn out, and I don’t feel bad for saying ‘no’ to plans when I know I need a quiet day at home. I’m even taking some annual leave just to spend a chunk of time at home – who knew that was possible?! The lockdown period certainly wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows, but there are definitely a lot of moments that I look back on fondly, and can see that those moments did a lot of good for me.”
16-25 year olds living across the UK will be able to apply for the Time + Space Award to be given time, space and resources to explore their own big idea in one of four areas: science, art and culture, society, nature and climate. The award is not limited to students, it’s aimed at finding innovators, entrepreneurs and original thinkers. Click here to enter.
