The First Third is a new think tank by, and for, the people growing up now.

The first third of life - birth to roughly thirty - is when our brains develop, habits and identity are formed and when the foundations of our health and resilience are laid down. It is also when the world around us has the most power to shape who we become.

The First Third has been created because the founding members have seen through their work and personal experience that the current commercial environment is doing real harm to us - from babyhood onwards - often in ways that are influential but at the start invisible.  We also see how essential it is not just prevent the harms of the 9 industries in this ‘Addiction Economy’, but also to create the positive conditions to help young people flourish - building what we call the ‘Connection Economy’.

We also noticed that despite being studied, surveyed, worried about and legislated for, young people's own analysis and perspective on their situation is almost completely absent from the decisions taken about them. Young people do not feel, and are not being heard in the places where that matters.

There are organisations working on many of these issues already, and we are currently seeking funding for a short scoping study to share the findings of our research, identify and map our distinctive contribution and identify what is not being done and where the voices and perspectives of young people can really make a difference to shaping the world they live in.    

If you could fund us, or would like to know more, contact Joe Woof on joe@thefirstthird.org

To know more about The Addiction Economy and The Connection Economy see our microsite www.theaddictioneconomy.com. To know more about SocietyInside who initiated and funded this research go to www.societyinside.com