Happenings sparks engaging discussions with young people about their neighbourhood and how it can better support their wellbeing.
Their conversations are mapped as part of a facilitated workshop, and the map data helps planners and developers understand young people’s wellbeing as complex and relational.
Led by Free Ice Cream and Play Disrupt, this project has been developed with young people on Anglesey as part of the Public Map Platform research project.
The Public Map Platform empowers communities- and young people in particular- to shape planning decisions by creating and using evidence rooted in local needs, now and for the future.
How does Happenings work?
‘[My highlight] was listening to everyone else's ideas. We were all quite interactive… sharing ideas and having a laugh through it makes the time fly .’
〰️
‘[My highlight] was listening to everyone else's ideas. We were all quite interactive… sharing ideas and having a laugh through it makes the time fly .’ 〰️
‘It shows different perspectives of our world and there’s so much things that we don't see that other people see'
〰️
‘It shows different perspectives of our world and there’s so much things that we don't see that other people see' 〰️
‘I got to talk about my favourite place. I liked connecting the places to each other.’
〰️
‘I really liked .. a different way of talking about places. I learned about other places I didn’t know about’
〰️
‘I got to talk about my favourite place. I liked connecting the places to each other.’ 〰️ ‘I really liked .. a different way of talking about places. I learned about other places I didn’t know about’ 〰️
Young people have contributed at every stage of the design journey
86 young people from Anglesey (and a few from elsewhere) were engaged in the iterative design process for Happenings.
This included participants from local secondary schools, an additional needs school, Girl Guides, youth groups, and youth clubs.
We ran workshops with young people aged 8-18 over the course of a year, and through listening to them and analysing their maps, we learned how they used the tool, and made design changes in response.
As a result, we know we have a tool that young people find engaging and that draws out the nuances of how they feel about how they live in their neighbourhoods.
Happenings is currently being used to consult with young people in the development of a Local Plan in Bradford Upon Avon, and we will be publishing map insights and how those translated into recommendations when the project reaches a close.
What’s Next?
We are currently looking for two more case studies: areas or organisations that are about to embark on consulting with young people (whether writing Local or Neighbourhood Plans or some other output) and who would like to try out the platform.
If you would like to talk to us about how Happenings could work for your community Get in touch at happenings@freeicecream.co.uk
Reflecting the value of places and making links.
The video above shows a Happenings map created by the Barnardo’s Young Leader’s group.
One participant pinned a ‘safe bench’ where they go to reflect and enjoy peace and quiet.
Listen to them talk about their bench, and broader thoughts about the mapping:
‘It’s made me think about my environment, where I live, and other things that can give me opportunities to help out or get involved.’
‘I got to talk about my favourite place, write down where it was, enjoyed thinking about it more deeply. I liked connecting places to each other’
Anglesey Girl Guides workshop participants