News
Research Grants Strengthen People’s Voices
03 November 2010
Press Release
A total of 28 applications from local authorities and youth organisations were shortlisted and seven grants were awarded across the two categories – Open Youth-Led Research and Young People’s Voice and Influence.
Three local authorities will be given £3,000 each to undertake open youth-led research – projects designed and led by young people - in their local areas.
Winners of this award are:
- Investing in Children – an organisation that is part of Durham County Council promoting the rights of children and young people. They will be researching whether young people in Durham should be taking on caring roles.
- Peterborough City Council – which will be assessing young people’s sense of identity within the city.
- Islington Children Social Care Children’s Active Involvement Service will be undertaking research into increasing the participation of young people, who have social workers.
Four organisations working in partnership with local authorities will receive £1,000 each to explore young people’s voice and influence in developing their local services. The recipients are:
- Solihull Council's Youth and Community Service - Active Involvement and Democracy Team
- Isle of Wight Council’s Youth Connexions Service
- National Deaf Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service
- York Youth Council.
The young researcher group from York are looking at the issues of child poverty and commented: “We are hoping to find out how poverty affects young peoples choices to go to further education and employment whether it has an impact on the school results of children & young people. We are really excited about this project and are really hoping to have an impact on poverty in education in York”
Isle of Wight Council’s Youth Connexions Service will be researching what social activities are available on the Isle of Wight for young people with learning disabilities or difficulties.
Simon Dear, Commissioner for Positive Activities, said: “Our research will provide young people with learning disabilities and/or difficulties better access to things to do and places to go. They will assess what is already available and determine what they need. We will use this research to change the services that we provide and to improve what we do for young people.”
“Our research has been designed by young people with learning disabilities and/or difficulties and will be run by them, using milestones and targets they have created themselves.”
“Working with the Young Researchers Network will also provide great opportunities for these young people to be involved with the Network. Working together with young people with learning disabilities and/or difficulties, we will ensure better access to things to do and places to go on the Isle of Wight.”
The Young Researcher Network’s mission is to value, support and encourage research led by young people. The Network is run by the NYA as part of its work with the Local Government Association (LG Association, supported through top-sliced funding for local authorities.
In addition to the funding, the research award winners will be provided with training and support through the Young Researchers Network to support the sustainability of youth-led research.
Alex Stutz, National Youth Agency development officer, said: “We were delighted by the strength of entries this year and are looking forward to seeing these projects come to fruition.
“We feel these projects will really help young people to raise their voice and participation in society and decision making. The research questions and methodologies are designed and led by young people, providing them with the opportunity to research what matters most and use the findings as an effective tool for change both locally and nationally.”
For further information on winning projects visit: http://www.nya.org.uk/youngresearchernetwork
ENDS