Practice-based Research as Development: Innovation and Empowerment in Youth Intervention Initiatives using Collaborative Action Inquiry

Abstract

The current plethora of youth policy initiatives in the UK is challenging practitioners, policy-makers and researchers alike to think differently about how to develop and implement more effective intervention strategies. In turn, this stimulates reflection on the nature of roles and relationships between research, policy and practice. Catalysed by the Modernising Government agenda (Department of Health, 1998) and discourses of rights, participation, inclusion and citizenship, all of which accentuate the active role of young people in research and development processes, local service providers are now obliged to involve youth in the planning, monitoring and delivery of interventions (see, for example, Quality Protects, Children’s Fund, Connexions). In the Planning Guidance notes for Connexions it states:

Connexions Partnerships will involve young people, collect and act upon their views and be proactive in doing so. Involving young people is a necessity in order to provide a service based upon identified rather than perceived need, to enhance the self learning of young people about themselves, others and how organisations work … They (young people) will have a key role to play to ensure the service emphasises innovation and delivery that meets their needs (October 2001, p. 58).