Children’s lives in changing places

This project will explore the role of place, and children’s perceptions of it, on the well-being and life chances of children growing up in disadvantaged neighbourhoods. It will examine how local environment intersects with familial, socio-economic, and cultural influences to mediate the impact of recent changes transforming contemporary childhood.

Austerity policies, digital technologies, COVID-19, and the cost of living crisis are just a few of the changes that have impacted the lives of all children.

The research team will use participatory action research methods to produce original, in-depth qualitative evidence to help improve the lives of children, as well as a new conceptual framework for understanding children’s experiences of place, and a new model of an arts-based approach to involving children as active participants in local neighbourhood planning and development.

Up to 120 children, living in three contrasting ‘left behind’ neighbourhoods of Deighton (Huddersfield), Coffee Hall (Milton Keynes) and Mablethorpe, will be involved as active research partners throughout four research phases:

• Phase 1: Child led activities, including neighbourhood walks, will explore the significance of the social and physical environment on their lives, agency, and participation in local spaces. Visual documents (narratives, films, maps, and photographs) will be produced by the children. Informal observations and interviews with professional stakeholders will be undertaken.
• Phase 2: The visual documents from Phase 1 will be used to encourage other children to reflect and respond on their own experiences. This will be supplemented by focus groups with parents/carers and interviews with adult residents.
• Phase 3: The children will present their messages at a workshop in each site and invite community members to contribute their own perspectives. Together, workshop participants will produce a map of each area and develop change initiatives to take forward in Phase 4.
• Phase 4: Each area will bring together the children, community members, local officials, and statutory and voluntary partners to discuss key findings and recommendations for change. Priorities and action plans will be identified and further monitored in a series of neighbourhood action workshops.

An illustrated publicly available report and digital interactive ‘PreZine’ will be co-produced with children and artist partners. The research team will host online and local exhibitions to showcase the children’s visual material to local and national stakeholders. Methodological outputs will include a handbook and free-to-download toolkits for use by community organisations and professionals seeking to engage children in research and development. Policy exchange events and briefings will identify implications for national and local policy and practice.

This project forms part of the third wave of the international Growing Up in Cities network of research and action.