This research was commissioned by COI and DCSF to understand in depth, the barriers, motivators and messages for parents to encourage participation in positive activities for young people. Within this the research was designed to understand the level of influence of parents in whether a young person participates/what a young person might participate in and to provide a qualitative typology/segmentation of parents in relation to attitudes to positive activities. A mix of group discussions, mini group discussions and paired depth interviews were conducted with parents of children aged between 13 and 19 years of age. The sessions were defined by the level of their child's participation in organised activities to include parents of regular participants, occasional participations, lapsed and non participants. The sample was biased towards C2DE audiences and slightly towards mothers. There is clearly wide support for children being encouraged to participate in more positive activities, and for a Government programme or programmes that work with schools, clubs, local authorities and parents to help support greater participation. Such activities are seen as an undoubted good, and increased support for children taking part in them would be welcomed by a substantial majority of parents. The value of such activities is tacitly accepted, but the benefits in terms of avoidance of harm, improved confidence and self esteem, child happiness and long term outcomes are all worth restating. However the key barriers to parental encouragement for more participation by their children fall under three clear headings: (1) Lack of information; (2) Concern about experience, cost and logistics; and (3) Expectation of child negativity. There is widespread resignation about the non participation of their children among those whose children are less involved, and a well publicised programme that clearly addressed all these barriers (as well as reminding parents of the benefits of such activities) could have substantial effect. However, a reminder of the benefits of such activities without a clear programme that addressed both parental and child barriers would be much less likely to succeed in changing behaviour.