The Research Programme

Currently, research on both 'risk' and 'protective' factors has been heavily dominated by psychosocial models of risk that have placed the individual child or young person at the centre of the 'risk matrix'.

One consequence of this has been an almost total absence in the literature of any consideration of the social construction of risk. Studies of risk and young people have largely ignored the ways in which young people interact and negotiate with their social worlds and the importance of putting culture and context at the centre of the process. Yet, risk-taking is a negotiated process and children's management of social exclusion may well impact on the types of risk they are willing to take.

"Being 'different' may bring with it more substantial and immediate risks that have everyday consequences for young people's lives".

Project 1: Risk and resilience in children who are offending, excluded from school, or who have behaviour problems

Target group: A mix of young offenders, school excludees and children with emotional/behavioural difficulties
Research team: Jean Hine, Dr Alan France, Leigh Dunkerton and Katie Stubbs, Universities of Sheffield and De Montfort

Project 2: Risk, protection and resilience in Urban Black and Asian Culture

Target group: Young people from diverse ethnic minority groups
Research team: Dr Kaye Haw and Dr Mark Hadfield, Urban Programmes Research Group, University of Nottingham


Project 3: Risk, protection and resilience in the family life of children and young people with a parent in prison

Target group: Children and families with a parent in prison
Research team: Professor Janet Walker, Peter McCarthy and Karen Laing, Centre for Family Studies, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Project 4: Social capital and its impact on risk, protection and resilience in young people

Target group: Young people with and without social capital
Research team: Professor Hazel Kemshall, Thilo Boeck and Jennie Fleming, De Montfort University, Leicester

Project 5: Substance misuse amongst young offenders

Target group: Young offenders known to Youth Offending Teams
Research team: Professor Richard Hammersley and Dr Louise Marsland, Universities of Essex and Glasgow Caledonian