We are working to maximise conceptual and scientific impact through journal articles, conference papers and other academic outputs. The collection of outputs will contribute to academic discussions of theory and method in the areas of social policy, criminology, sociology, political science and research methodologies.
Instrumentally PROMISE will impact on policy and practice decisions, and work is on-going in each country to disseminate the findings to decision-makers and stakeholders. Towards this goal we have produced a series of reflections pieces focusing on key themes of the research. These are designed to be a gateway to the project, each containing ‘Five ways to make a difference’ with suggestions for policy and practice. Two of these themes are included below:
1. Stigma and labelling are key sources of disengagement, but there are ways of transforming negative stigma into positive engagement.
- We found that a key factor for transforming negative stigma into positive engagement was the feeling of belonging to a wider community of people sharing the same values.
We heard from young people who were stigmatised yet hugely motivated to campaign on an issue that affected them, particularly if they felt part of a wider community. The role of supportive older people was key to this sense of belonging.
- Not all, but most young people who are labelled as ‘troublesome’, are also those who have experienced the greatest disadvantages in life. These may include poverty, family breakdown, domestic violence, bereavement, problems at school and a lack of consistent, positive relationships and role models. A cycle of isolation from society and disengagement, leading to further negative behaviours and problems, develops easily for these young people, but is much harder to break.
Some of the young people we interviewed talked about a sense of not being trusted and of not belonging. This lack of trust is clearly a barrier to positive engagement in any society.
- For those who are stigmatised and labelled, stereotypes are easily created and often inaccurate, creating unnecessary fear of a group seen as more extreme than they really are. Sometimes the media, in the course of developing news stories to attract audiences, feeds into this cycle, creating further isolation and mistrust.
Some young people told us that by taking a stand for something they believed in, they came into conflict with other, more traditional groups who then labelled them, creating fear and hostility.
2. Systems and processes
- A huge barrier to young people’s engagement is conflict with systems. Many of the formal interventions they face (for example, the justice system, welfare system, civil, legal) serve to re-stigmatise and re-embed conflict, rather than to resolve it.
Finding ways to incorporate youth support in all areas (education, employment, social), particularly for those facing multiple life challenges, is crucial to their social and political engagement.
- Another hurdle to participation is a lack of investment in ‘alternative’ systems for young people. As well as mainstream institutions like schools and colleges, we need more informal systems to enable young people to express themselves and grow. Some may be run by charities or community groups, others might be established or run by young people themselves.
Many of the young people we talked to felt disconnected from their local community, particularly by those in power. If young people feel excluded and unwanted, without cultural or social opportunities and places to go, they will become more marginalised and disengaged.
- A key factor for all systems to succeed in getting the best out of young people is if they offer supportive and positive relationships. An overwhelming finding across all our work was that the more young people can trust, the more they will engage.
Even more than trust in political institutions, it is trust in other people that is most able to increase political and social engagement.
