Study title

27 group interviews were conducted to explore the views of young people about their environments particularly those outside of home, school and the playground. This data collection contains the group interview transcripts and supporting documentation.

Despite research on child development highlighting the singular needs of children and adolescents, most large-scale environments reflect only adult values and usages. Young people are seemingly invisible, provided only with "token space" which is inapproptiate to their needs and aspirations. This project investigates the environment as children and adolescents (9-16 years) "see it" and how they make use of place. Attention will focus on the "4th environment", public places beyond home, school or playground. Only through consultation of this kind will young people become full and integrated users of and participants in their local environments. Unless generational groups of this nature are involved in the planning process they will remain as "outsiders" within society. This project builds upon research undertaken by the investigators on young people and their environment; contributes to the collection of a new body of data to assist knowledge and understanding; encourages the development of new research methods which are sensitive to young people, enables links with a number of projects within the locality which target young people as place users; and will complement other international research, looking critically at experiments in other countries involving childrens participation in planning. The project will inform policymakers about young peoples relationship with their physical and built environments, and put in place mechanisms to empower young people to articulate their place needs.