Youth
Citizenship: Young People’s Perspectives
This Home Office report presents the findings from 2 research studies undertaken with children and young people. They aim to provide more understanding of young people living in areas of high crime and high deprivation. One study explores children's understanding of key aspects of citizenship, whilst the other examines community perceptions held by professionals, resident adults and children living and working in 'On Track' areas.
Title: Citizenship: Young People's Perspectives
Author: Home Office Research Development Statistics
Series: Home Office Development and Practice Report 10
Date Published: April 2004
Number of pages: 10
The 2 research projects were designed to complement the National Evaluation of 'On Track'. This is a long-term national experimental project introduced as part of the Home Office Crime Reduction Programme.
The project aims to prevent crime and anti-social behaviour by children and young people through multiple interventions for children and families, emphasising "at risk" children between 4 and 12 years of age. The University of Sheffield was commissioned to undertake the first phase of the National Evaluation of the programme in 24 small area locations across England and Wales.
In total, 11 On Track areas across the country were included in the research. Though all have high deprivation they varied in terms of their:
heterogeneity
residential mobility
demographic composition
type of area.
The studies took place in local schools, youth clubs, youth inclusion programmes, On Track interventions and community groups.
Citizenship Themes
The report is organised according to the 3 themes of citizenship:
social and moral responsibility
political literacy
community involvement.
Results
The results reinforce the connections of the 3 themes and highlight the ways in which addressing issues can have a knock-on effect in others. The introduction of citizenship studies to the national curriculum for secondary schools establishes its importance, and will enhance children's appreciation of citizenship issues.
School Influence
The report identifies that schools have a responsibility to ensure that children appreciate their civil rights and responsibilities, and that the example from the school encourages them to be fully active citizens as they become older.
Schools are a crucially important forum for providing such experience and learning. It is not sufficient to teach children about citizenship – they need the opportunity to experience and practice it. Participative processes in schools, within which children feel they are listened to and the teachers lead by example, will equip children for active citizenship.
Local Issues
Some locally specific issues emerged in the course of the work, as practitioner views of the problems and needs of an area can be different to those of the residents, and that the views of children and young people can be different to those of adult residents. Each perspective has some validity, and it is important for workers in local areas to be aware and take account of these alternative views.
The aspects of local life that the children and young people identify as important are often those that have:
low priority on political agendas
frequently been the targets for cost cutting exercises.
This work researching children's views demonstrates the wide ranging impact that decisions can have on children in deprived areas, and the knock-on effect that this can have for their attitudes and aspirations and ultimately for their future role as active and law abiding citizens.
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Last update: 14 April 2004