Young Manchester Evaluation

Evaluation activities comprise a combination of surveys and youth participatory action research (YPAR) activities with representatives from funded organisations and youth participants in funded programmes. YPAR activities will be delivered in collaboration with 32 young people who will be trained as co-researchers. The knowledge gained through this evaluation will inform Young Manchester’s future grant-making approach and attract future investment in the charity, while the innovative methodological approach will contribute to the evidence base for youth-led research and evaluation practices.

Manchester Centre for Youth Studies' expertise in youth-engaged research and the Centre's focus on generating research with positive outcomes for young people align strongly with the evaluation aims and approach. In addition to informing Young Manchester’s future grant-making approach and attracting future investment in the charity, this study pilots an innovative mixed method, youth-engaged approach that enables youth perspectives to be heard and addressed by Young Manchester and funded organisations, builds leadership and research capacity among young people accessing funded programmes, and facilitates the development of a survey tool for the rigorous evaluation of youth experiences and outcomes of participation in youth play programmes. A key aim of the project is to develop and trial an innovative, youth-engaged methodology that incorporates new digital, participatory, and creative methods and tools, centres youth perspectives and experiences, and builds personal, creative, leadership, and research capacities among young people. The resulting report and associated resources will additionally facilitate knowledge sharing across funded organisations to strengthen the delivery of youth and play programmes across Greater Manchester and beyond.

For more information about this project contact Professor Hannah Smithson

h.l.smithson@mmu.ac.uk