280203 Young people and social inclusion. How research can make a difference

We invited 200 delegates to join us at the Botanical Gardens in Birmingham.

The conference discussed future directions, challenges and opportunities for research in young people and social inclusion. It brought together voluntary organisations, young people, parents, the research community, policy makers and service providers.

Much of the day's debate took place in small round-table discussion groups. These groups were facilitated by our Board Members and staff, and representatives of the voluntary sector and the research community. The workgroups were asked to identify research priorities and ways in which beneficiaries could be involved. The groups also acted as a grant-making committee, to allocate £500,000 to one or more fictional applications presented in a portfolio.

As well as the workgroups a number of presentations took place.

We asked three recent award holders and their research partners to give brief presentations dealing with one or more of the following questions:

- What role does research play for the voluntary sector?

- What are the benefits and challenges for both the voluntary organisation and the research organisation when they form research partnerships?

- How do the voluntary sector organisation and the researchers go about setting up good partnerships?

- How are beneficiaries best involved in the research?

- How will the research be disseminated?

Findings of the conference

The message from the conference was that beneficiaries should be involved in research in adequate and imaginative ways and that they may need resources to engage with research.

Partnerships between the voluntary sector and research community were seen as essential for producing high quality research. However, such partnerships can be challenging and have to be thought out.

Most delegates found it difficult to identify priorities because there were so many important areas. Delegates also pointed out that it isn't enough to set priorities. Pointers are needed to identify the questions we should ask. For example, if bullying and racism are of concern what are the questions that researchers should ask? What questions would young people find interesting?

Full conference proceedings will be made available in May.

Presenters at the conference and their projects

Geoffrey Hinds (The Bridge Project)
The Bridge Project was established in 1984 and provides a range of services in Bradford for drug users and their carers.

In March 2002, we awarded them a grant of £113,523 to work with researchers from the University of Bradford on a project which focuses on drug abuse by people under-18. This is an increasing problem in Bradford. The project seeks to provide a more effective service for drugs users and their carers. The project will estimate the size of the problem, particularly among 'hard-to-reach' groups (such as the youngest drug users, ethnic minorities and the homeless) and will explore when users themselves feel that drug taking has become a problem. Users will be asked for their own ideas on what help they need.

Neil Dickson (The Samantha Dickson Research Trust) and Richard Grundy (Birmingham University)
Neil and Angela Dickson set up the Samantha Dickson Research Trust after the death of their daughter, Samantha, to a brain tumour. The Trust supports research into the causes and treatment of malignant brain tumours, particularly childhood tumours. It also offers telephone support to families.

We awarded a grant of £105,204 to the Trust in November 2002. The aim of this project is to develop clinical guidelines for the medical profession about the most effective and humane ways of diagnosing brain and spinal tumours in children and young people.

Deborah Jack (Brook Advisory Centres) and Roger Ingham (University of Southampton)
Brook is the only national registered charity providing free, comprehensive, confidential sexual health advice and services targeted at young people under 25. It has a network of centres in more than 40 locations across the UK and Northern Ireland. The charity provides a wide range of sexual health information through its website and publications and runs a national information service - handling enquiries by phone, text message and on-line.

In July 2002 we awarded a grant of £118,439 to Brook to investigate condom use among 16-21 year olds. Brook will work with the Centre of Sexual Health Research at the University of Southampton. Young people's input is vital to the design of this research project that will investigate how young people's use of condoms is affected by their beliefs, behaviour and perceptions of risk. The project aims to encourage effective condom use among young people to reduce the number of unplanned teenage pregnancies and spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Claire Fowler (British Youth Council)
The British Youth Council is a coalition of youth organisations, representing between 4-5 million young people.

Run by young people for young people, it aims to provide a recognised and effective voice for them, promoting their views to government and decision-makers at a local, national, European and international level. BYC promotes the active citizenship of young people and works to ensure that they are more involved in decisions about their lives and advance their participation in civil society.

We commissioned the BYC to undertake a consultation exercise with young people across the UK aged between 11-18, in secondary school (to include a young people from black and ethnic minority backgrounds, those affected by disability and young people who live in areas disadvantaged by (urban or rural) social or economic change).

Through questionnaires and consultation workshops BYC explored the opinions of young people on two questions. First, what are the most urgent issues that need to be addressed in order to tackle disadvantage? Second, what are the experiences and perceptions of young people about research?

Professor Harriet Bradley (University of Bristol)
Professor Harriet Bradley talked briefly about her experience of researching in collaboration with local and national government agencies and voluntary organisations. She set out guidelines for successful partnership in all stages of the research process.

	20 February 2003 Young people and social inclusion. How research can make a difference
	We organised a conference on 'Young people and social inclusion. How research can make a difference' on 20 February in Birmingham. We invited 200 delegates to join us at the Botanical Gardens in Birmingham. The conference discussed future directions, challenges and opportunities for research in young people and social inclusion. It brought together voluntary organisations, young people, parents, the research community, policy makers and service providers. Much of the day's debate took place in small round-table discussion groups. These groups were facilitated by our Board Members and staff, and representatives of the voluntary sector and the research community. The workgroups were asked to identify research priorities and ways in which beneficiaries could be involved. The groups also acted as a grant-making committee, to allocate £500,000 to one or more fictional applications presented in a portfolio. As well as the workgroups a number of presentations took place. We asked three recent award holders and their research partners to give brief presentations dealing with one or more of the following questions: - What role does research play for the voluntary sector? - What are the benefits and challenges for both the voluntary organisation and the research organisation when they form research partnerships? - How do the voluntary sector organisation and the researchers go about setting up good partnerships? - How are beneficiaries best involved in the research? - How will the research be disseminated? Findings of the conference The message from the conference was that beneficiaries should be involved in research in adequate and imaginative ways and that they may need resources to engage with research. Partnerships between the voluntary sector and research community were seen as essential for producing high quality research. However, such partnerships can be challenging and have to be thought out. Most delegates found it difficult to identify priorities because there were so many important areas. Delegates also pointed out that it isn't enough to set priorities. Pointers are needed to identify the questions we should ask. For example, if bullying and racism are of concern what are the questions that researchers should ask? What questions would young people find interesting? Full conference proceedings will be made available in May. Presenters at the conference and their projects Geoffrey Hinds (The Bridge Project) The Bridge Project was established in 1984 and provides a range of services in Bradford for drug users and their carers. In March 2002, we awarded them a grant of £113,523 to work with researchers from the University of Bradford on a project which focuses on drug abuse by people under-18. This is an increasing problem in Bradford. The project seeks to provide a more effective service for drugs users and their carers. The project will estimate the size of the problem, particularly among 'hard-to-reach' groups (such as the youngest drug users, ethnic minorities and the homeless) and will explore when users themselves feel that drug taking has become a problem. Users will be asked for their own ideas on what help they need. Neil Dickson (The Samantha Dickson Research Trust) and Richard Grundy (Birmingham University) Neil and Angela Dickson set up the Samantha Dickson Research Trust after the death of their daughter, Samantha, to a brain tumour. The Trust supports research into the causes and treatment of malignant brain tumours, particularly childhood tumours. It also offers telephone support to families. We awarded a grant of £105,204 to the Trust in November 2002. The aim of this project is to develop clinical guidelines for the medical profession about the most effective and humane ways of diagnosing brain and spinal tumours in children and young people. Deborah Jack (Brook Advisory Centres) and Roger Ingham (University of Southampton) Brook is the only national registered charity providing free, comprehensive, confidential sexual health advice and services targeted at young people under 25. It has a network of centres in more than 40 locations across the UK and Northern Ireland. The charity provides a wide range of sexual health information through its website and publications and runs a national information service - handling enquiries by phone, text message and on-line. In July 2002 we awarded a grant of £118,439 to Brook to investigate condom use among 16-21 year olds. Brook will work with the Centre of Sexual Health Research at the University of Southampton. Young people's input is vital to the design of this research project that will investigate how young people's use of condoms is affected by their beliefs, behaviour and perceptions of risk. The project aims to encourage effective condom use among young people to reduce the number of unplanned teenage pregnancies and spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Claire Fowler (British Youth Council) The British Youth Council is a coalition of youth organisations, representing between 4-5 million young people. Run by young people for young people, it aims to provide a recognised and effective voice for them, promoting their views to government and decision-makers at a local, national, European and international level. BYC promotes the active citizenship of young people and works to ensure that they are more involved in decisions about their lives and advance their participation in civil society. We commissioned the BYC to undertake a consultation exercise with young people across the UK aged between 11-18, in secondary school (to include a young people from black and ethnic minority backgrounds, those affected by disability and young people who live in areas disadvantaged by (urban or rural) social or economic change). Through questionnaires and consultation workshops BYC explored the opinions of young people on two questions. First, what are the most urgent issues that need to be addressed in order to tackle disadvantage? Second, what are the experiences and perceptions of young people about research? Professor Harriet Bradley (University of Bristol) Professor Harriet Bradley talked briefly about her experience of researching in collaboration with local and national government agencies and voluntary organisations. She set out guidelines for successful partnership in all stages of the research process.