‘Childhood in Transition: Understanding the Lives of Children and Young People in the Context of Conflict and Marginalisation’ Research Project (Save the Children NI, Princes Trust, Queen’s University Belfast) 2008-2009
This research, a collaboration between Queen’s University Belfast, Save the Children NI and the Princes Trust, was carried out in six communities heavily affected by the conflict in Northern Ireland and ranked high on indicators of economic deprivation. Conducted with Siobhán McAlister and Phil Scraton, the project included focus groups and interviews with sixty five community representatives, 196 children and young people aged 8-25. The key themes were: images of children and young people; personal life and relationships; education and employment; community and policing; place and identity; segregation and sectarianism; violence in the context of conflict and marginalization; services and support; and the rights deficit. Extensively quoted, this research has made a significant contribution to understanding about the lives of the so-called ‘post-conflict’ generation in Northern Ireland and has informed a range of publications and presentations.
- Full report: McAlister, S., Scraton, P. and Haydon, D. (2009) Childhood in Transition: Experiencing Conflict and Marginalisation in Northern Ireland, Report, October 2009, Belfast: Queen’s University Belfast/ Save the Children/ Princes Trust Link to document
- Report for children: Haydon, D., McAlister, S. and Scraton, P. (2010) Childhood in Transition: Summary of research findings for children and young people, June 2010, Belfast: QUB/ Save the Children/ Princes Trust Link to document
- Executive Summary: McAlister, S., Scraton, P. and Haydon, D. (2011) Childhood in Transition. Experiencing Marginalisation and Conflict in Northern Ireland, Executive Summary and Key Findings, Belfast: QUB/ Princes Trust/ Save the Children Link to document
- Presentation:”I know what rights are, but I don’t have a clue what they are”: children’s understanding about rights in Northern Ireland’, The Child: Postgraduate Research Conference, Queen’s University Belfast, Northern Ireland (2009)
- Article: McAlister, S., Scraton, P. and Haydon, D. (2010) ‘Insiders’ and ‘Outsiders’: Young People, Place and Identity in Northern Ireland, Shared Space. A research journal on peace, conflict and community relations in Northern Ireland, Issue 9, March 2010, Belfast: NI Community Relations Council, pp69-83 Link to document
- Presentation: ‘When you’re off the estate, you’re always lookin’ where the trouble might come from’: the impacts of growing up in Northern Ireland’s divided society, ‘Growing Up in Divided Societies’ Conference, Queen’s University Belfast, Northern Ireland (2010)
- Chapter: McAlister, S., Scraton, P. and Haydon, D. (2011) ‘Place, territory and young people’s identity in the “new” Northern Ireland’ in B. Goldson (ed) Youth in Crisis? ‘Gangs’, territoriality and violence, Routledge, pp89-109 Link to document
- Article: Haydon, D., Scraton, P. and McAlister, S. (2012) ‘Young People, Conflict and Regulation’, The Howard Journal of Criminal Justice, Special Issue: The Legacy of Conflict and the Impact on the Northern Irish Criminal Justice System, Vol. 51, No. 5, pp503-520 Link to document
- Presentation, with Siobhán McAlister: ‘“You Never Hear the Good Stuff” Contributing Positively: The Evidence Base’, ‘Integrated Outcomes Based Planning for Children and Young People, Seminar 3: Contributing Positively to Community and Society’, Queen’s University Belfast, Northern Ireland (2012)
- Article: McAlister, S., Haydon, D. and Scraton, P. (2013) ‘Violence in the Lives of Children and Young People in “Post-Conflict” Northern Ireland’, Children, Youth and Environments, Special Issue: Children, Violence, Community and the Physical Environment, Vol. 23, No. 1, pp1-22 Link to document
- Article: McAlister, S., Scraton, P. and Haydon, D. (2014) ‘Childhood in transition: growing up in “post-conflict” Northern Ireland’, Children’s Geographies, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14733285.2014.888399 Link to document
- Presentation, with Phil Scraton: ‘Ensuring a Rights Based Future’ at NICCY’s ‘Creating a Place for Children and Young People in Building a Peaceful Future’ Event, Human Rights Week, Belfast, Northern Ireland (2015)
- Presentation, with Phil Scraton: ‘Children and Young People, The Excluded Generation’, Awkward Voices Activist Weekend, Belfast, Northern Ireland (2016)
‘Childhood in Transition: 10 Years On’ Research Project (Queen’s University Belfast) 2018-2021
This project, with Phil Scraton, assesses on-going problems, new issues and progress since publication of the original Childhood in Transition research in 2009. It includes the key findings of interviews with policy makers and practitioners in 2018 and the issues identified in research conducted with children/ young people during the last decade.
- Presentation: ‘“Listen to young people. Let them have their say. Take it on board and do something about it”: Activism informed by children and young people’, Alternative University Seminar, Duncairn Arts Centre, Belfast, Northern Ireland (2018)
- Presentation: ‘Preliminary findings from interviews with practitioners’, A New Deal for Children and Young People Seminar for youth and community workers, Belfast, Northern Ireland (2018)
- Book: Haydon, D. and Scraton, P. (forthcoming) Childhood, Transition and Social Justice, Routledge