Events and seminars

Save the dates:

• Spring seminar - 11th March 2025, 1:30pm-3pm

• Summer seminar - 11th June 2025, 1:30pm-3pm

Winter seminar - An overview of The Good Childhood Report – 27th November 2024, 1:30pm-3pm

The second in the 2024/25 series of seminars from The Open University's Centre for Children and Young People's Wellbeing.

Delph Chollet (they/them) is a Senior Researcher at national children’s charity The Children’s Society, which publishes annual assessments of UK children and young people’s subjective wellbeing called The Good Childhood Reports. Delph is the lead researcher on the Good Childhood research programme. They will present the research programme, an introduction to subjective wellbeing and components of wellbeing that children and young people say are important to them, findings from The Good Childhood Report 2024, and The Children’s Society’s recommendations for the new Government.

Autumn seminar - 9th October 2024, 1:30pm-3pm

The first in the 2024/25 series of seminars from The Open University's Centre for Children and Young People's Wellbeing.

Part 1: ‘How can you meaningfully involve young people in your policy work? Lessons from the Young People’s Future health Inquiry’(Bradshaw-Walsh ,K. and Ali, A, 2024).

New Philanthropy Capital (NPC) is a think tank and consultancy for the social sector. In January 2024 they published the following report in collaboration with the Health Foundation:

We will be joined by Tris Lumley who was involved in preparing this report and further work that is being developed from it:

Tris Lumley - Tris leads NPC’s work on innovation, developing new approaches, programmes and ventures to create significant, long-term contributions to the capability and capacity of the social sector. Tris is primarily focused on collaborative and infrastructural approaches to data and digital in the social sector. Tris helped initiate and develop NPC’s work on digital, which is currently focused on creating practical collaborations on digital technology in the youth sector and the Inspiring Impact programme which aims to improve impact practice across the UK charity sector.

Part 2

Portia Simond - Coach and Movement Network Lead, Leap (Active Partnership for Bucks and Milton Keynes) in conversation with Dr Linda Plowright-Pepper about their work with young people about addressing their mental health and wellbeing issues. Portia is an experienced community practitioner who enthuses the least active, building their confidence to use physical activity for wellbeing. She will share her practical experience of engaging in difficult conversations, key tools that can help, and approaches that have inspiring results.

Spring seminar 2024 - 14th May 2024, 1:30pm-3pm

A seminar on children's wellbeing, perspectives, and experiences - from autism to school transition interventions.

Part 1: A Mosaic approach to listening to autistic pupils’ perspectives on, and experiences of, the sensory environment in mainstream primary schools … and a bit beyond!

Sarah Foster is an experienced autism therapist and graduated from the Open University in October 2023 with a BSc in Psychology. She was also a winner of the Children’s Research Centre, Practice Research Award and undertook a participatory research study to listen to autistic pupil’s perspectives on, and experiences of, the sensory environment in mainstream primary schools. Her background as both a teacher and therapist provides her with a powerful blend of practitioner and participatory researcher knowledge and experience. Sarah has now gone on to study for her MPhil in Psychology and Education at Cambridge University. She continues her interest in the OU Children and Young People’s Centre for Wellbeing and we welcome her today to hear about her study and how she is taking that investigation forward in her Masters journey.

Sarah’s presentation summary: Hypersensitivity and/or hyposensitivity to sensory stimuli were late additions to the diagnostic criteria for autism, being formalised only in the last ten years. However, there is now a growing body of research which looks at individual modalities and how they might differ in autistic populations (such as intolerance of loud noises). Simultaneously there have been welcome developments in the autistic children are rarely asked for their own perspectives. Research is characterised by data collection from caregivers or teachers (e.g., Kientz and Dunn, 1997) or research based upon Applied Behavioural Analysis interventions e.g., use of ear defenders, which have been heavily criticised by the autistic community (see Milton, 2020).

Sarah’s study instead, used a neurodiversity paradigm to consider sensory differences - both strengths and challenges - within a particular (school) environment. Its starting point was that mismatches between sensory environments and sensory needs are the source of challenges for autistic children, in accordance with the social model of disability (Woods, 2017). She applied a participatory Mosaic research approach to data gathering and analysis with three year 5 and 6 participants, as well as adopting a relational approach (Kellett, 2005) to facilitate the "discovery" of the children’s strengths.

Responsiveness and empathy were key in highlighting autistic children’s potential as active co-researchers who could voice their perspectives. Results also indicated the multi-sensory nature of children’s experiences in their mainstream primary settings, along with some commonalities in the spaces they found challenging (e.g., toilets). However, the overall impression was one of variability in participants’ "autistic" sensory experiences and the need to adapt the sensory environment accordingly.

Part 2: School transition interventions and young people’s mental health: A systematic review

Dr Caitlyn Donaldson is a Research Associate working at DECIPHer, a public health research centre, and the Wolfson Centre for Young People’s Mental Health, both at Cardiff University. Her research interests include young people’s mental health, health inequalities and school transition. She worked for a public health charity for 15 years before moving into academia. She has recently finished working as a data analyst for the expansion of the School Health Research Network (SHRN) – a network of all state-maintained secondary schools in Wales – into primary schools. She is currently working on an NIHR-funded project to produce systematic review evidence for UK government, as well as supporting the evaluation of the Whole School Approach to Mental Health and Wellbeing in Wales. Email Caitliyn if you have any questions.

Caitlyn’s presentation summary: Life transitions offer important opportunities for intervention to improve health outcomes. I will present findings from a systematic review of interventions to support young people’s mental health across educational transitions, using effect direction plots to illustrate intervention effectiveness. The interventions included in the review had diverse methodologies, making comparison difficult. However, social outcomes appeared more amenable to intervention than behavioural outcomes, with mixed findings for psychological measures of mental health. There was little consideration of how interventions might differentially impact different student groups or result in intervention-generated mental health inequalities.

Winter seminar 2023: Children and young people’s wellbeing - from tackling bullying to partnering health research. – 12th October 2023, 1:30pm-3pm

Part 1: Understanding and Resisting Bullying: working with young people to develop a school-based antibullying intervention utilising critical discursive psychology.

Dr Karen Hagan,Senior Lecturer and Staff Tutor (OU Ireland), School of Psychology and Counselling, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

Karen's presentation summary:- Applied research is a core feature of discursive psychology, both in terms of its focus on topics of everyday life and its focus on ‘the world as it happens’. The ‘critical’ strands expose practices of social injustice, highlighting the discursive reproduction of ideological positions that typically exist in abusive and bullying relationships. The intervention, ‘Understanding and Resisting Bullying’, sits within a wider ‘Antibullying Project’ applying theory, analysis and findings from critical discursive psychological research to the phenomena of bullying, manipulation, coercion and abuse. It consists of a programme of six workshops that aim to collaboratively support children and young people to address bullying. The pilot cycle and its evaluation will be discussed in relation to further development of, and research into, the intervention.

Part 2: A ‘Journal Club’ pilot session

Dr Joan Simons, Professor of Health Studies, Head of School, Health, Wellbeing and Social Care in the Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies.

Joan's presentation summary: This pilot ‘Journal Club’ session will be based on the following publication:

'Thomas C. et al., 2023, Working with children and young people in research: Supportive practices and pathways to impact.'

Children and young people have much to contribute to the design and delivery of health research and care. Nevertheless, there are multiple barriers to meaningful and impactful involvement of children and young people. This narrative review synthesised existing literature on the involvement of children and young people as partners in health research. (Thomas C. et al., 2023, p.1)

The paper is a systematic review of literature that has implications for our broader wellbeing agenda. Joan will highlight significant research findings and points of interest in a guided discussion on the implications for our own research. You can download the article via Google Scholar here: Thomas C. et al., 2023, Working with children and... - Google Scholar. Do feel free to offer Joan any key thoughts for discussion in advance or just come prepared to contribute or simply listen to the interesting discussion that unfolds.

Spring Seminar 2023: Young people in advisory roles informing health and wellbeing research. – 26th April 2023, 1:30pm-3pm.

Part 1: The Story so far: Children’s Lives in Changing Places (CHiLL). Changing cultures of childhood, the challenges of growing up in less advantaged neighbourhoods.

Dr Wendy Turner, Senior Lecturer, Health, Wellbeing and Social Care. The Open University, UK

Wendy’s interests and expertise lies in understanding health and wellbeing in the lives of children and young people. Her research in health literacy was underpinned through participatory methods with young people and explored the intersectionality of agency, equality, health and social justice. Her professional background is within community services, for children and young people with learning disabilities, supporting young people and offending, those with complex health and social needs including end of life care.Researchers working with CYP strive to provide the most appropriate, comprehensive and understandable information about their research... in a way that is accessible to CYP … so that CYP can make informed decisions about engaging and continuing to take part in research.

Recent research spanned a European Erasmus+ project exploring working with stakeholders to support young people not in education.

Wendy’s current research is as part of a globally expansive research into young people’s contemporary urban life. Growing Up In Cities III (GUIC III) involves 18 countries where researchers in 24 study sites examine adolescent perceptions of urban space in order to better understand this impact, particularly how recent social, economic and cultural change and the effects of COVID-19 have impacted on young people (10-15 years). Her research is located in Milton Keynes, and involves young people as researchers’ methodology, working with local and national advisory groups to maximise outputs and impact.

Debbie Humphry is a research fellow at the Open University, working on the CHiLL project (Children’s Lives in Changing Places). She is also a researcher at Oxford Brookes University, working on Spaces of Hope, a participatory project exploring the histories of community-led planning. She is an editor for the journal City Journal Online city: analysis of urban change, theory, action Her research focuses on the lived experiences of housing, neighbourhood and community action in the context of UK national policy and global capitalism, using participatory and visual methodologies. She works closely with several community campaign organisations.

Part 2: Working with children and young people to develop health research and practice.

Lucy Bray, Professor in Child Health Literacy in the Faculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine at Edge Hill University, UK.

Lucy Bray is a children’s nurse who has worked within acute children’s nursing for over twenty five years, specialising in children’s procedures and surgery. She works as a Professor in Child Health Literacy in the Faculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine at Edge Hill University in the UK.
Her work explores how children and young people can be involved in creating meaningful health information and shaping health care research and practice. The majority of Lucy’s research is based on qualitative research approaches using innovative methods which aim to facilitate the involvement of children and young people.
 

Winter seminar 2022: Engaging children and young people in the management of their own wellbeing – 2nd November 2022, 1:30pm-3pm

Challenges and highlights of two current research studies engaging with children and young people in qualitative participatory research.
This seminar will share the challenges and highlights of two current research studies both engaging with children and young people in qualitative participatory research approaches but with children in starkly different circumstances.

Part 1: Improving the management of children’s pain.

Joan Simons, Professor of Health Studies and Head of School, Health, Wellbeing and Social Care.

Joan has had a long-term interest in the management of children’s pain in hospital as both a practitioner and academic. She will present research which has grown from her doctoral studies which brought together parents and nurses in an innovative collaborative framework for more effective pain management.

Part 2: What young people want for physical activity (YPAC)

Linda Plowright-Pepper, Affiliated Researcher with the CCW and Mark Stokes, Head of Children and Young People, Leap (the Active Partnership for Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes)

Linda and Mark will outline the challenges of inactivity which contribute to sub-optimal wellbeing amongst young people in the UK, particularly the most disadvantaged. They will present early work in progress on a knowledge exchange project working with children and young people as advisors as well as participants in devising and directing action research activity projects.

Centre for Children and Young People’s Wellbeing Seminar 2022 - 25th April 2022, 3pm-5pm.

Researching with children and young people about wellbeing: Opportunities, challenges, and good practice.

• What do we mean by wellbeing?
• Why is a children’s rights stance important in researching children and young people’s wellbeing?
• What are some of the ethical and methodological issues researchers face working with children and young people experiencing trauma?

The CCW team will be joined by researchers with first-hand experience of the challenges and rewards of participatory wellbeing research.
Hosted by: The Centre’s CCW Directors Prof Joan Simmons and, Dr Mimi Tatlow-Golden- Co-Director

Part 1: Samantha Goodliffe (The Open University) 

Samantha will present on working with children and young people as research advisors on research design and participant documentation. She will share her participatory experiences of conducting online photo-elicited interviews with children and young people plus the ethical challenges encountered will be shared. Samantha Samantha Goodliffe is a final year PhD candidate in the School of Health and Wellbeing at The Open University. Her research explores the psychosocial experience of family members living with coeliac disease. This research has involved working with children and young people in advisory and participatory capacities.

Her previous research work in academic settings includes patient and public involvement, design and delivery of self-management interventions, feasibility trials, designing and delivering training to healthcare professionals, and evaluating perinatal mental health support service. She also worked for a charity supporting children and families. Her work has involved working in multidisciplinary teams with different health populations in the UK and internationally. Samantha will present working with children and young people as research advisors on research design and participant documentation. Her participatory experiences of conducting online photo-elicited interviews with children and young people plus the ethical challenges encountered will be shared.

Part 2: Dr Victoria Cooper (The Open University)

Dr Victoria Cooper will present ‘Forgotten Families, exploring some of the ethical and methodological issues researchers face working with children and young people experiencing trauma. Victoria is a Senior Lecturer at The OU and a former Co-Director of the CRC. She has published articles and book chapters on a wide range of topics, with a specific focus on issues of identity, research methods and marginalised children’s experiences.

She is currently PI on YSS Families First - a research project exploring the experiences of children, young people and families when a family member is in prison. Victoria will present ‘Forgotten Families.’ This seminar will explore some of the ethical and methodological issues researchers face working with children and young people experiencing trauma.