Roy Smith is a youth worker and PhD student interested in community and youth activism. Nikki Price is a photographer and MA student interested in family, memory and loss. They have been happily un-married for over 20 years and thought it would be interesting to run something together. Although both are involved in formal education, they are interested bringing research skills into the community from behind the University paywalls.

How do we learn about democracy? The biggest influence on most young people’s political views and behaviours are those of their parents and community. Many people feel let down by politicians creating negative experiences, alienating them from democratic processes that should exist to help them. This leads to apathy and conclusions like ‘they are all as bad as each other’ or ‘nothing ever changes’. I am researching how families could improve learning about democracy and lead social change together.

The first part of this workshop will be a chance to discuss some of the challenges and inequalities in our political system, sharing experiences and opinions on political education as well as imagining how things could be better.

We will then be experimenting with photovoice, a research method that uses photography to answer questions, to explore how political decision-making impacts on physical spaces, the family and everyday life. This may involve going outside and using camera phones to capture images.

(Please note that this workshop is not part of our formal research. Although the conversations may influence our thinking, we will not be gathering any formal evidence. The aim is rather to learn together, share ideas, methods and thinking.)