The long term aim of this research project was the collection, publication and analysis of stories that reflect issues facing young people using the Brighton’s Young People’s Centre in Ship Street, who often fall between school and adult provision (late teens and beyond).

The Project aimed to build on a previous research relationship and existing participatory practices within a community project. Linking staff, volunteers and young people at a local young people’s centre (YPC) with University of Brighton staff and students with the short-term aim of forging a closer working relationship and sharing and exchanging insights into working with young people thought to be ‘hard to reach’. The project developed working relationships with the longer-term aim of pursuing a participatory life history project that is fit for purpose within a young people’s centre.

Each year over 900 young people use the YPC, with up to 2,800 recorded visits, very many of whom could be categorised as experiencing social exclusion and as ‘hard to reach’(Youth and Connexions Service annual activity statistics). However, whilst the number of young people using the YPC looked very healthy, the YPC did not have a sophisticated qualitative means of demonstrating either the types of participatory practices undertaken in the centre or the life experiences and journeys that have led young people to use the YPC. This project sought to address these issues by introducing qualitative research, specifically participatory life history research, to the YPC staff, volunteers and young people.

There are a number of ways in which knowledge and skills were exchanged during the project:

Conversation, planning and decision making arising from everyday project work between the community supervisor and the project worker
Development of research and enquiry skills in the staff, volunteers and young people who participate in the project.
The engagement of a Project Steering Group comprised of advisers, drawn from both the University and Community Partner’s networks.
A symposium designed to bring the community project and the university together to share practice
A written case study on the YPC which will capturing their history.
Formal introduction of work placements for School of Education students  at the YPC
Training in life history techniques.
Dissemination activities at the university by the project worker and the YPC e.g. seminar series

Partnership Information

Community Partner: Impact Initiatives, Young Peoples Centre, 69 Ship St.
Community Supervisor: Ben Glazebrook, Centre Manager, YPC 
University Partner: Education Research Brighton, School of Education
Academic Supervisor: Professor Ivor Goodson (Education Research Centre)
Project Worker: Suzanne Hyde, University of Brighton