Knowledge Transfer and Dissemination
The Centre is very actively involved in developing ways of transferring learning and knowledge about children and young people's lives to a wide range of audiences.
Dr Afua Twum-Danso Imoh
In March 2012 Dr Afua Twum Danso-Imoh received funding from the University of Sheffield’s Collaborative R&D and Partnership Scheme for a 6 month project entitled ‘Facilitating Children's Participation in the Niger Delta’ with a particular focus on children’s participation in non-governmental organisations. This project was conducted in conjunction with Stepping Stones Nigeria (SSN), a UK-based organisation that works on children’s rights in the Niger Delta of Nigeria. This project was based on research and training needs that SSN and its partners had identified as crucial for their programming. The project also sought to complement one of SSN’s existing projects (PACT), which aims to develop the capacity of children’s rights NGOs in the Niger Delta in key areas such as fundraising and child protection.The outputs of the project were as follows:
1) A research report which was disseminated both in Nigeria and the UK as well as submitted to the United Nations Human Rights Council which will be considering the government of Nigeria’s periodic report in 2013.
2) A short film/DVD which we made during the project and which
primarily captures the views of children on issues relating to their
rights and welfare. 3)This DVD will also form part of Stepping Stones’
submission to the UN Human Rights Council. The DVD was also
distributed to NGOs across the Niger Delta.
4) A poster which was produced out of the winning drawing from a
drawing competition we organised as part of the project. This was
distributed to NGOs across the Niger Delta who will use it in their
advocacy work with communities.
3) A cartoon sketch based on challenges children themselves identified
as key in their region. This was distribited to NGOs across the Niger
Delta who will use it in their advocacy work with communities.
6)A training module on child participation was produced which was used
to train 53 NGO workers in Akwa Ibom and Cross River States as well as
10 members of Stepping Stones staff in the the UK.
4) 6 workshops were organised to disseminate the findings to both
adults and children in Nigeria (3 workshops for children; and 3 for
adults). A total of 128 adults and children participated in these
sessions.
Facilitating child-friendly hospitals: a research and practice knowledge exchange.
Dr Penny Curtis (Nursing and Midwifery)
Professor Allison James (Sociological Studies)
Dr. Ian Simkins (Experiential Landscape)
This Knowledge Transfer initiative originated with a request from Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trusts, to provide advice that would help to improve hospital wayfinding following a major restructuring of children’s hospital services on one hospital site. The project builds upon research undertaken in the ESRC funded research ‘Space to Care’ (completed in 2007), which provided the largest UK empirical evidence base for understanding what a ‘child-friendly’ environment might mean from the perspectives of children and young people.
Through meetings, site visits and participative activities with Trust staff, children young people and their families, the project is:
- bringing together researchers , practitioners and policy makers (particularly service managers and specialist nurses) who work with children and young people in the delivery of hospital based services in a manner that enables a sharing of knowledge and experience
- disseminating research findings relating to children’s and young people’s experiences of hospitals
- enabling the views and experiences of children and young people to be included in the redesign of wayfinding via consultations and participatory activities.
- Identifying and making recommendations to address site-specific issues for the Trust.
Work began in late 2010 and is due to be completed late spring 2011.
The KT project showcases the importance of interdisciplinary work and, specifically that carried out under the remit of the Centre for the Study of Childhood and Youth, through the involvement of representatives from Nursing and Midwifery, Sociology and Landscape.
Listen to Us Too!
Important messages from a study about the lives of disabled teenagers who use Alternative and Augmentative Communication. This booklet (download here) presents the teenage participants' views of the important findings from a longer study. The study is called 'Teenage Worlds, different voices and is an ethnographic exploration of identity and the lifeworlds of disabled teenagers living in England who use alternative and augmentative communication (AAC)'. You can read about the study in more detail in the following publications:
- Wickenden, M. (2009) Talking to Teenagers: Using Anthropoloical Methods to Explore Identity and the Lifeworlds of Disabled Young People Who Use AAC. Communication Disorders Quarterly XX(X) 1-13.
- Wickenden, M. (2010) Talk to me as a teenage girl: An anthropological study of identity and lifeworlds with teenage AAC users. Communication Matters Vol 24/3: 4-8.
- Wickenden, M. (2011 in press) 'Talk to me as a teenager': Experiences of friendship for disabled teenagers who have little or no speech. Childhoods Today.
For further details about the study please contact Mary Wickenden, m.wickenden@ich.ucl.ac.uk.
Knowledge Transfer on Vulnerable Children and Families, Promoting Resilience Group
Members of the Vulnerable Children and Families, Promoting Resilience Group at CSCY have secured support from the University of Sheffield, Knowledge Transfer Rapid Response Fund to run a small series of pilot workshops with year 7 pupils in Sheffield secondary schools. There will be three workshops in each series: one developing young people’s interest in future study and careers in science; one looking at how young people keep themselves safe in their community; and one looking at young people’s safety online. For more information please contact Robin Sen on r.n.sen@sheffield.ac.uk
Children in Schools Workshops
Background to the Workshops
The idea for these workshops was generated in a meeting of the Children and Families : Promoting Resilience, research group based at the Centre for the Study of Child and Youth at the University of Sheffield ( http://www.cscy.group.shef.ac.uk/events/Vulnerablechildrenresearchgroup-4.htm ). The purpose of this group is to engage in research activities which can benefit children and families who are combatting disadvantage and adversity. Richard Crook, Lead Positive Behaviour Practitioner, Sheffield City Council, played an important role in the development of the workshops through his extensive knowledge of local schools. Michelle Grayson of Chaucer BEC and Grant Bryce–Stephen of Yewlands TEC were pivotal in helping make the workshops translate from ideas into reality. Thanks are also due to the financial support provided by the University’s Knowledge Transfer Rapid Response Fund which allowed the workshops to be developed and delivered. Download here for a report on the workshops. 
Past Events
To find out about past knowledge transfer events click here.
Website links
Developing Media Literacy: Towards a Model of Learning Progression, Institute of Education, London http://www.ioe.ac.uk/research/4689.html
