Young people fear for their future and feel ignored by politicians, according to new report.
The Barnardo’s children's charity has found that two thirds of young people believe their generation will be worse off than their parents's.
It says 62% of 16-24-year-olds feel the Government cares more about older generations than their own.
The report, Overcoming the Poverty of Hope, says more than a third of young people feel negative about their future.
The main reasons were a lack of jobs or careers, money and financial worries, and high house prices.
Barnardo’s chief executive Javed Khan said: 'While material poverty is part of the problem, many children and young people today also feel there is little or no possibility of a positive future, what we call a "poverty of hope".
'The voices of young people are missing from debates about the challenges facing the country.
'They feel ignored by society and decision makers who are focussed on the concerns of older generations.
'Collectively, we can help young people overcome this poverty of hope by believing in them, nurturing their talents, providing opportunities, knocking down barriers, and listening to them when it comes to decisions that affect their futures.'
