Back in February, we hosted a webinar asking delegates to consider the ways in which an inclusive and proactive place-based approach to community wealth-building can take better account of the role, needs, spaces and wellbeing of children and young people. There were presentations from colleagues across the CNS team, exploring work carried out across our… Continue reading CNS Webinar: Follow-up
Category: Concepts, ideas and research
Outdoor spaces: not just for Christmas
Rachel Cowper, Programme Director here at CNS, reflects on how we should focus on enabling our children and young people to spend quality time and gain experiences in their local outdoor spaces. It’s that time of year again when ‘family’ feels more important than ever. We’re coming together to eat, drink and celebrate – and… Continue reading Outdoor spaces: not just for Christmas
Improving local greenspaces for children and young people
This week, Dr Claire Bynner and Benjamin Murphy bring us an insight blog exploring why some young people are afraid to spend time in their local greenspaces - and how this can be changed. A growing body of international evidence demonstrates the positive relationship between engagement with greenspace and the wellbeing of children and young… Continue reading Improving local greenspaces for children and young people
How to make a difference in place-based work with children and young people
Whether conducting research using our Children’s Voice approach, facilitating international dialogue on climate change, or evaluating how local authorities engaged with the third sector throughout the COVID-19 pandemic - our Research and Evaluation (R&E) team is kept pretty busy here at CNS! Our researchers undertake qualitative and quantitative data collection, while delivering a programme of… Continue reading How to make a difference in place-based work with children and young people
The third sector as key workers and strategic collaborators
As Scotland emerges from its latest round of COVID-19 restrictions, attention is on looking forward, and planning routes to recovery. In order to plan well, it’s important to look back, too. There's much to learn from how the Coronavirus pandemic actually unfolded and how local services responded. This can help us better prepare for future… Continue reading The third sector as key workers and strategic collaborators
Reflections from Scotland: What’s the best way to reopen schools safely?
Professor Chris Chapman (Principal Investigator, CNS), and Dr Sarah Weakley (Research Associate, CNS) recently contributed a blog to the International Public Policy Observatory (IPPO) website. On the topic of schools re-opening, Professor Chapman and Dr Weakley discussed Scotland's phased-return approach, set to commence on Monday 22 February. This will see in-person learning restart for 'early… Continue reading Reflections from Scotland: What’s the best way to reopen schools safely?
Can ‘place-based’ work continue at a distance?
“How do you work in a place-based way when you can’t be in the place?” We've been pondering this question since March. Our Director put this to the team as the COVID-19 crisis and restrictions began to unfold... New approaches to place-based working The last few months have seen life as we all know it change in… Continue reading Can ‘place-based’ work continue at a distance?
The Capabilities Approach: ‘A Family of Theories’
Our aim at Children’s Neighbourhoods Scotland is to find ways of bringing people, partners and services together, in order to tackle the big issues currently making it difficult for children and young people to live happy and healthy lives. The big, big issue at the moment – for everyone - is undoubtedly the outbreak of… Continue reading The Capabilities Approach: ‘A Family of Theories’
4 inspiring ways young people have changed public services across the globe
Here at Children's Neighbourhoods Scotland, we're using a capabilities approach to help young people articulate their goals and aspirations - and to help them recognise the barriers and enablers to achieving these aims. Public services can be key enablers, but it's really important that new ideas are incorporated into their development - otherwise they can… Continue reading 4 inspiring ways young people have changed public services across the globe
The school with a heart for community
During a recent work trip to Manchester, members of the Children’s Neighbourhood Scotland team took the opportunity to visit Manchester Communications Academy (MCA), a creative, innovative and inspiring secondary school which has the whole community right at the heart of everything they do. Opened in 2010, and with the words “with you... for you... about… Continue reading The school with a heart for community
Children's Neighbourhoods Scotland 