Grown up? Journeys to adulthood

Exploring how journeys to adulthood are changing for Generation Z

New pathways

Young people today are navigating a more complex and uncertain world. Traditional milestones— leaving home, finishing education, starting work — are happening later and in different ways. Growing up is often shaped by their home background and where young people live, which influences the opportunities and challenges they face along the way.

Grown up? dives into how young people aged 14 to 24 are making the journey to adulthood—and what this means for policy, research and wider society.

We face critical gaps in understanding how Generation Z is experiencing this phase of life —and how policies and systems can better support them throughout their journeys to adulthood.

Grown up? explores the realities of becoming an adult across four interconnected areas:
- Pathways to independence: What helps young people move forward, particularly without financial support from family and carers? We examine the social, psychological, and economic steps to adulthood.
- Education to work: What does meaningful, sustainable work look like for Gen Z? We explore how to better support young people, especially those with disrupted journeys to adulthood.
- Digital lives: How are young people living, learning and connecting in online spaces—and what does this mean for policy and support?
- Mental health and well-being: How do life transitions impact young people’s mental health and well-being? We look at the challenges—and what can help.
We’re working in collaboration with young people to centre their perspectives and experiences. Insight from young people across the UK is being gathered with support from our partner Hopkins Van Mil, helping us understand what growing up feels like today.

We are also collaborating closely with our research centres – the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory, and the Ada Lovelace Institute.

We are drawing together different kinds of knowledge: youth insight, data commentaries and expert features, to inform the Nuffield Foundation’s future grant rounds, as well as future policy and practice.
The Ada Lovelace Institute, as part of the Nuffield Foundation’s Grown Up? programme, is conducting a comprehensive study on the digital lives of 14—24 year-olds. This research aims to understand the nuanced experiences of young people with digital technologies, beyond the binary focus on harms and opportunities. By exploring the diverse ways digital engagement influences their development and self-expression, the project seeks to provide a holistic view of growing up in a digital age.