November Reading List

Building on  one of last month's reads about why we should build power for new narratives, in place of relying on old ones that can often draw attention away from systemic solutions, this article, resource, and campaign from the Migrants’ Rights Network on why Words Matter provides some helpful prompts on how the language we use can shape narratives around migration and ‘migratised’ communities. On their website, the team at the Migrants’ Rights Network debunk terms such as “illegal immigration”, “refugee crisis” and “integration”, and question some common talking-points around unity, deservingness, the economy, and whiteness. This is a great tool to support thoughtful and impactful communication through all of our work with and for young people – from design through delivery, evaluation, and all sorts of communications – as well as all other parts of life, too. – Catherine, Organisational Learning Lead 

-- 

I’ve been reading an article about the factors at a national level that affect the prevalence of young people categorised as Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET).  The research analysed factors which affect levels of NEET across 40 different countries using data extracted from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) database. The author, Simone, used linear mixed model analysis to examine associations between the NEET rate and other country wide factors.  

Simone’s analysis concludes that the NEET rate across countries results from unfavourable conditions such as poor economic growth, poor social spending, high levels of inequality, and poverty. Conversely, high investment in education was a protective factor. Thus, decreasing inequality and improving economic opportunities and education spending (e.g., school-to-work transition programmes) may help in containing and reducing the NEET rate. 

Whilst these findings are of little surprise, they are of great value. In Simone’s work, we find validation through evidence that young people are not solely responsible for becoming NEET and that the economic, welfare and educational polices they live within are acting on many of them unfavourably. This is useful evidence to; weave into grant applications, underpin theories of change and programme design, and perhaps even, to initiate a youth social action or research project in order to change those very structures. – Kaz, Director of Learning 

 

-- 
With people in the UK facing worsening financial strain due to the cost-of-living crisis, the team at OnRoad have produced this useful guide for organisations looking to frame discussions around cost-of-living and the climate crisis. This project, a collaboration between Reset Narratives, On Road Media & Rubber Republic, recognises the rise in damaging persuasive narratives which places tackling climate change and the cost of living as opposing issues. OnRoad has worked with a group of researchers and communicators to explore how best to communicate these issues, and offer recommendations to help connect both crises, and their causes and solutions, to a wider audience. The four key messaging recommendations are; to move people to a solutions-focused approach for both climate and cost of living crises; reduce fatalism with calls to action such as ‘the worst consequences of climate change are avoidable if we can get decision-makers to act quickly and decisively’; and finally, pushing people towards supporting policy solutions such as emergency financial relief, renewables, and insulation. – Zunaira, Research and Projects Assistant 

 

-- 
The Institute for Community Studies (ICS) has recently published Volunteer Journeys, which explores how young people experience and perceive the UK’s current volunteering ‘offer’. The report offers a comprehensive overview of volunteering in the UK and is noteworthy for two reasons. Firstly, the breadth of data collection methods and peer-research approaches to research design is highly valuable. The opportunity for young people to act as co-researchers, influencing design, data collection, and analysis is important to ensure the research is truly representative of young people's views. Secondly, the report identifies some important factors in the landscape of volunteering for young people. In particular, I was drawn to the concepts of ‘volunteer literacy’ and ‘social scaffolding’ as key enablers of volunteering. Well worth a read for anyone thinking about how young people can be better supported in their communities to engage in volunteering opportunities. You can also listen to Emily Morrison, Head of ICS, talking about the research, here. – Jo, Project Manager 

 

-- 
This recent study by Barnados discusses the impact that the cost of living crisis is having on young people and stresses the requirement for intervention by those in positions of power. With research provided by the Institute for Public Policy Research, this is an insightful read, opening our eyes to the current issues both children and young people face which goes far beyond a rise in debt. Specifically, the report brought to light the various economic, social, physical, and emotional concerns the crisis has presented. Educational attainment and employment prospects have reduced, along with a rise in child neglection and malnutrition. In addition, the report saw an impediment to social lives and an increase in anxiety, labelling this crisis the ‘new lockdown’. The study’s empirical cases, accompanied by interviews with various practitioners, gives urgency to the issue and presents key recommendations for remedying the crisis, such as increasing financial support, investment into family hubs, and the implementation of a ‘full participation plan’ for schooling. – Erin, Communications and Partnership Assistant 

 

-- 
The College is the sector partner for the Enterprise Development Programme (EDP), facilitating and participating in conversations around social investment and investment at large. Though there is much progress to be made, conversations around equity have become more and more common in the social investment space. I found this Pioneers Post article particularly interesting. It focuses on the volume and prevalence of ‘gender-lens investment’, defined as the integration of gender analysis into the investment process for better social and financial outcomes. Laura Joffre summarises findings from the GenderSmart State of the Field 2022 report, which found that while there has been “a shift in mainstream awareness of gender-lens investing” among financial institutions, with investors holding the “right conversations”, dialogue is yet to transform into substantial action or capital. The report found that women-founded start-ups in the US raised just 2% of all venture capital in 2021 – a percentage that has remained stagnant since 2008, and just 1.4% of US-based assets under management were managed by firms owned by women or people of colour as of September 2021. The report concludes by acknowledging that sole advocacy for gender-lens investment isn’t enough to result in action amongst investors or those with capital power, regulatory or policy changes are needed in order to force them to act.  – Soizic, Enterprise Development Manager 

 

-- 
Nominet has released their second benchmarking report into the digital lives of young people. It makes interesting points about the connection to young people’s wellbeing, the difference between perceptions of safety versus the reality and the motivation to pursue digital careers contrasted to digital skills. Of particular note, when considering how we engage with young people, both in the context of service provision but also youth voice and evaluation practices, is the inequalities around digital access, which remain stark yet complex. Whilst smartphone access remains relatively high at 86%, it drops to 71% for those with specific disabilities or attending a faith school.  25% of young people rely on an out of home internet connection, this is significantly higher for those living with a guardian or carer (only 48% rely on home WiFi) and 30% say home internet access is insufficient to do the things they want to. As the report notes, it is not a level playing field, particularly given that, compared to their peers, 10% less of those young people who are LGBTQ+, have certain disabilities or mental health challenges, feel that school adequately equipped them with digital skills. – Helen, Deputy CEO 

 

-- 
Published this week by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Anxiety Nation explores the connection between poverty and insecurity as a source impacting our population’s mental health and anxiety. The findings are especially relevant to our work at the College as it highlights that women and young people are more likely to be impacted. The report investigates the evidence and sets out: 
 

• On 12 different markers of mental health problems – from sleep loss to impeded social life – renters raised the flag for distress much more often than homeowners, and on 10 of the 12, more than twice as often. Among young people, rates of homeownership have halved over the past generation.  

 

• Those with minimal savings reliably reported far more distress than substantial savers, with twice as many admitting to taking less care at work, and three times as many reporting feeling worthless. 

• A rise in anxiety symptoms recorded in pooled GP patient records across the UK is highly concentrated in younger age groups. Anxiety ‘codings’ for 25–34 year olds have doubled since 2010, while those for the under-25s have roughly tripled, with total incidence now far higher among young women than any other group.  

• All sorts of reforms, from those relating to the rental market to workplace changes, could bolster economic security – and, based on the findings, bring serious benefits for mental health too. – Anna, Head of Engagement 

 

-- 
For those interested in the way in which (young) people process emotions, Toleikyte (2020) provides a useful starting point in her work on neuroplasticity and changing behaviour. As she explores the cognitive processes that affect the way we think, it becomes clear that the ability to self-regulate is a complex and challenging process. 
Difficulties in regulating behaviour and emotions in social situations will be evident to a range of practitioners working with young people, especially those who have missed out on opportunities to develop the socio-emotional skills required to navigate the world around us. The idea of the ‘neuroperson model’ provides a helpful lens for thinking about the way in which young develop cognitively. Toleikyte is optimistic in the brain’s ability to learn and change, which can be seen in the strategies she provides - a positive reminder that relational pedagogies like youth work can provide the right conditions for all to grow and flourish. – Simon, Head of Education 

 

-- 
Considering how to introduce or embed youth voice within your organisational governance? This briefing on Our Bright Future, an innovative partnership led by The Wildlife Trusts and funded by The National Lottery Community Fund, sheds light on how its youth-led approach influenced youth governance and leadership across Our Bright Future’s participating programme organisations. The programme consisted of 31 projects running from 2016 – 2021, which brought together environmental and youth sector organisations, and empowered young people aged 11-24 to lead future environmental change at national and local level. As part of its policy, Our Bright Future enshrined the importance of youth voice, and encouraged its organisations to set up various governance systems and processes, such as youth forums, panels, and trusteeships, as well as youth-led design approaches in order to share decision-making power. The briefing provides an overview of resources, materials and learning that supported organisations to achieve this, and insights and case studies from participating organisations that successfully embedded youth voice practice within their projects. As a result of the programme, more than half of partner organisations have established or plan to establish youth-led or youth governance processes or structures at project or organisational level, while 19 organisations stated that they have established or are planning to establish youth governance more widely in their organisation. – Hannah, Communications Manager