Children Young People and Families

This strand of research activity is focussed on the well-being of children, young people, and families and on changing family forms.    Our work in this strand is organised under four broad headings;

Equal Opportunities, Austerity Impacts, Children’s and Young People’s Lives and Changing Families and Communities.

Research is informed by both practice based priorities and by theoretical approaches to understanding the changing nature of families, childhood and constructions of youth. Our work has regional, national and international recognition. However, this work is not new to the Faculty of Education and Society. This research strand builds on a long tradition of placing children, young people and families at the heart of social science research interests at Sunderland since the 1970s at least.

We have to date established a strong track record in research on; domestic abuse and inequality, child protection and family support, educational issues, quality in early years care and education, children’s perceptions of sibling relationships, children’s and young people’s transitions, safeguarding processes, the impact of cuts on vulnerable children and adults, children with specific needs, child carers, child trafficking, empowerment of young people, changing family forms, including lesbian mothers, and the implications of using of reproductive technologies for traditional kin relationships; and social policy and practice for parents in relation to family responsibilities and work.   We deliver many practice focussed seminars and conferences on; Mothering, Looked After Children, Domestic Abuse and Child Exploitation. We are currently focussing on work which explores impacts of austerity policies on children, young people and families. We are therefore presenting early research findings and hosting discussion on many aspects of austerity policies on the last Wednesday of each month.

We are consistently interested in work which seeks to improve the lives of children, young people and families and communities.  Plans for future research developments include; changing nature of youth work, the impact of neo liberalism and austerity on young people’s engagement, homelessness, education for sustainability, impact of same sex marriage on perceptions of kinship, young people’s experiences of learning in higher education and the impact of globalisation on children and young people’s lives.

For further information on research or consultancy in this area please contact:

Sheila Quaid (Theme Leader)
Catherine Donovan (Head of CASS)