Young Researcher Network Research Grants 2010/11 - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Young Researcher Network?

The Young Researcher Network (YRN) works to value, support, and encourage research led by young people. It will empower young people and raise their voice and influence on matters that affect their lives. The YRN is run by the National Youth Agency (NYA) as part of its work with the Local Government Association, supported through topsliced funding for local authorities. Each year, YRN offers funding to support youth-led research through its research grant programme.

What funding is available this year?

During 2010/11, YRN is offering a total of eight research grants: three grants at £3,000 for local authorities, and five grants at £1,000 open to any organisation working with young people.

Who is eligible to apply?

There are two separate strands of research grants:

The Youth-Led Research strand is open to local authorities only. The strand is offering three grants of up to £3,000 each. We would encourage local authorities applying to have or build links with their research teams, in order to support and promote youth-led research on an ongoing basis.

The second strand, focusing on young people’s voice and influence in developing services, is open to any organisation working with young people. However, if you are not a local authority, you must have good links with your local authority youth services, as they should be involved in agreeing the research topic, and potentially the project itself. This is because local authorities are key stakeholders in youth-led research, and we hope that the findings will make a real difference to their development of services for young people.

In order to be eligible, you must:

• be working with a group of young people who are interested in youth-led research (although the young people do not need to have any experience of research),
• have dedicated staff willing to support the group throughout (although these staff do not need to be research specialists), and
• enable the young people to access and benefit from the opportunities the Network offers.

The group must be able to carry out the research between September and the end of March 2011.

Can I choose the focus of the research?

The focus of the research, and the research methodology, should be chosen and developed by young people.

Under the Youth-Led Research strand, the focus of the research can be anything that is of interest to the young people. Topics should have relevance to the lives of the young researchers. Although your project may have a local focus, we would also encourage you to think about how other local authority areas and young people could benefit.

Under the second strand, focusing on young people’s voice and influence in developing services, young people are still free to choose the research question, but it should relate to the overarching theme. We are particularly interested in how young people are involved in shaping services for children and young people locally, how they understand and access the services available to them, and how they influence decisions around efficiencies and cuts, for example. If you are not a local authority, you will need to have or develop good links with your local authority youth services in order to carry out this research project.

How long can the research projects last?

Under both strands, the funding is to cover projects starting in September 2010, and ending by March 2011. Research projects must have finished and reported by the end of March 2011, including all dissemination activity that you have planned (such as seminars or conferences, for example). Research grants must be spent by the end of March too.

What can I spend the funding on?

Funding through the YRN is to support youth-led research. We will not fund ongoing or pre-existing projects – that is, projects that would have happened without this funding. Funds should be spent on things which support and enable the research to take place. This could include a digital camera or voice recorder, travel expenses to enable the young people to come together or to meet with participants, or supporting child care costs. Funds should not be used to cover the costs of staff already working with the young people.

I don’t know very much about doing research. Does that matter?

No, you do not need to have any previous experience of research, or supporting young researchers. You do need to be interested in youth-led research, and committed to supporting a group of young-researchers throughout their project. The YRN can offer you support and guidance in your role.

Do the young people need to be experienced researchers?

No. The YRN will provide free training for the young people, as part of the support we offer to successful projects. This training will cover topics such as research methodologies and ethics, and designing research projects. We have also produced a young researchers’ toolkit, which you will receive as part of the training.

What other support will the YRN offer during the project?

We will support to the group in carrying out the project, through dedicated webpages and social media, and links to other organisations involved in youth-led research. The support we offer you could be advice or guidance over the phone or via email, signposting to other organisations or researchers who may assist you, or where appropriate, support from other areas of the Agency’s work. We will also produce a research bulletin.  

How will the findings of our research be communicated?

All research projects funded by YRN need to produce a research report, but this could take a variety of forms: a DVD, a written report, or a podcast, for example. We would also encourage applicants to think about dissemination or publicity opportunities along the way. You will need to set out how you plan to share your learning as part of your project plan. We may also invite you to take part in other dissemination opportunities which arise during the course of the project.

How do I apply?

An application form should be completed for each application you make. The application form is available on the NYA website at www.nya.org.uk/youngresearchernetwork

The application form should be returned, either electronically or in hard copy, to National Youth Agency, Eastgate House, 19-23 Humberstone Road, Leicester, LE5 3GJ or by email to: yrn@nya.org.uk.

Who needs to complete the application form?

Some parts of the application form will need to be completed by the project worker, as they will be responsible for signing the contract with the NYA, and claiming the grant. However, we would encourage everyone who will be involved with the research project to take part in completing the sections setting out your plans. 

Can I apply under both strands?

The Youth-Led Research strand is open to local authorities only. Local authorities may also apply under the second strand, but applicants will only be successful in one strand (this decision will be made by the judging panel). Only one application per strand can be submitted.

What is the timeline?

Applications should be submitted by Friday 10^th September. Successful projects will be notified by 24^th September, and work can commence immediately. All projects will need to be completed by the end of March 2011.

Where can I get more information?

Visit our webpages at www.nya.org.uk/youngresearchernetwork or contact us.