£1m secured to make Staffordshire better for young people

A community network has secured almost £1m to empower young people aged 13 to 19 to undertake research designed to bring about positive change.

The Know Your Place Network has received the award through the Community Research Networks programme innovation which is funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), and delivered by The Young Foundation.

The Know Your Place Network is made up of Staffordshire Council of Voluntary Youth Services (a membership of 200 organisations working with children, young people and families); a young people's steering group; Staffordshire County Council and the University of Staffordshire.

In phase one of the programme, the group received £25k and used the money to test a research focus. Initially the research prioritised climate anxiety, but feedback from local young people cited other issues of greater concern including cost of living.

Phase one also saw young people test a new community research tool, and the recruitment of a steering group.

Phil Pusey MBE, chief executive at Staffordshire Council of Voluntary Youth Services, said: “The Know Your Place network is delighted to have been successful with our youth focused project application.

“We look forward to bringing a youthful perspective to the programme, to learn as much as we can from other areas and to enable young people and their wellbeing to be at the very heart of local policy and decision-making over the next five years.”

Nic Gratton (pictured), Associate Professor of Community and Civic Engagement at University of Staffordshire, added: “Research carried out by the young people themselves has the power to influence and ultimately make Staffordshire a better place for young people to live, now and in the future.”

Helen Goulden OBE, CEO at The Young Foundation, said: “The insights gained from the Know Your Place network and other local research networks will be vital if we are to work together to tackle some of the persistent and entrenched challenges we face.

“And at a national level, we hope to be actively contributing to a new and evolving infrastructure to support community research across the UK.”

Know Your Place is one of nine community research projects across the UK that has received funding as part of the second phase of this project.

Other grantees include a network addressing rural challenges in Durham, and a group researching economic inequality in Belfast communities.

UKRI chief executive Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser, said: “We are putting money into the hands of communities to tackle the issues that matter most to them.

“I am excited to see how these nine networks will enhance connectivity within and between the UK’s regions, contributing to an R&I system that benefits from diverse expertise and understanding.”