Introducing Know Your Place – A Youth-Led Movement in Staffordshire
Since December, we’ve been busy working behind the scenes with our fantastic partners at University of Staffordshire and Staffordshire County Council, preparing something truly special for young people across our county.
Now, we’re incredibly proud to officially launch Know Your Place — a bold, five-year youth-led research programme focused on giving young people the platform, tools, and power to create meaningful change in their communities.
Know Your Place is funded by UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) and supported by The Young Foundation — alongside 8 other networks across the UK.
Only 9 projects in the country were selected and Know Your Place is the only youth focused project. That makes Staffordshire’s project key to show how young people are not only part of the conversation, but leading it.
What is Know Your Place?
Know Your Place puts young people in charge of community research — giving them the opportunity to explore the issues that matter most, and influence the decisions that shape their lives.
It’s all about:
- Building a Young People’s Community Research Network
- Exploring real-world issues in Staffordshire from your perspective
- Using creative, participatory research methods – from photography to poetry, digital media, art, and even sport
- Turning research into action, advocacy, and long-term change
- Making sure young voices are heard by those in power
Whether it’s climate change, mental health, racism, youth safety, housing, education, or anything else – you decide what matters. Your voice, your experiences, your research.
What makes Know Your Place different?
This isn’t your typical research project. Know Your Place is powered by Participatory Action Research (PAR) — which means:
- Young people aren’t just participants. They are the leaders.
- You will help decide what’s researched, how it’s done, and what changes we fight for.
- You’ll get real training, build confidence, and learn skills that last a lifetime.
- You’ll also connect with decision-makers to influence policy, services, and investment in young people.
This is about making research meaningful, accessible, creative — and above all, impactful.
The Young People's Steering Group
Are you aged 13–19 (or 25 with additional needs) and passionate about making a difference in your community?
Do you have ideas about what needs to change in Staffordshire — and want to be part of the team leading that change?
Then the Know Your Place Young People’s Steering Group (YPSG) is for YOU.
The YPSG is the driving force behind the Know Your Place project.
This is where young people take the lead — deciding what matters, shaping research, planning action, and making sure the voices of young people are heard at every level.
As a member, you will:
Decide what issues the project should focus on (like mental health, climate change, housing, or discrimination)
Learn about research and how to use it to create change
Get creative with how we gather and share young people’s stories
Influence local decision-makers, councils, services and more
Be part of something big — with the power to shape Staffordshire
Receive free training in research and leadership (including Participatory Action Research)
Be part of exciting events and workshops throughout the year
Work alongside other passionate young people
Gain new skills and experiences that look amazing on CVs, college applications, and job interviews
Have your voice heard by adults who make decisions about your community
Most importantly: make a real difference
And don’t worry — no previous experience is needed. We’ll support you every step of the way!
What does being a member of the Young People's Steering Group involve?
Attend approximately 50 hours of Know Your Place activity over the year (June– June). Young people will receive vouchers as a thank you and token of our appreciation for their involvement in and contribution to the project. The activities will include:
- Approximately 15 hours of Young People’s Steering Group meetings (evenings or school holidays)
- An annual residential (two full days, including an overnight stay)
- Two full days training
- An event to share our findings with decision makers and researchers
- A day to discuss the findings of the research
- Other sessions as agreed (for example delivering consultations with young people in youth work settings).
Innovator Organisations
Are you a youth organisation, school, charity, or community group that’s passionate about youth voice and social change? You can become a Know Your Place Innovator Organisation – and play a key role in driving youth-led research and action across Staffordshire.
What does it mean to be an Innovator organisation?
As a subcontracted Innovator Organisation, you’ll receive funding to lead a creative consultation with young people in your district, community, or area of interest. This is called an Understand Your Place Consultation.
You’ll receive full support to plan and deliver this process, including:
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Training and guidance on Participatory Action Research (PAR)
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Help identifying the right questions to ask
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Creative tools and techniques to explore issues with young people
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Support in understanding the findings and what they mean for your community
Once your Understand Your Place Consultation is complete, your organisation will use the insights gathered and be funded to co-design a youth-led social action project — also known as a Change Your Place Project.
This could take many forms depending on the topic your group explores:
- A community garden project
- A mental health awareness campaign
- An initiative focused on safer housing
- A creative showcase of youth perspectives
The key is that the project is youth-powered, evidence-based, and rooted in what young people have said they care about.
How we will support you:
Each Innovator Organisation will receive up to £5000 to carry out the Understand Your Place Consultation and a Change Your Place Project over a year. We know this might be new territory — so we’re here to support you every step of the way.
As an Innovator Organisation, you’ll have access to:
Group support sessions with one of the project’s academic researchers
A chance to co-develop creative tools and consultation methods
Step-by-step guidance in turning findings into meaningful action
PAR training workshops available to all staff involved
In many cases, trained young people from our Young People’s Steering Group (YPSG) will also be able to support your consultation and project — helping you facilitate conversations, build trust, and share their experience of youth-led research.
Want to be involved?
We’d love to hear from you — whether you’re:
- A young person aged 13–19 (or 25 with additional needs)
- A school or college
- A youth worker or community organisation
This is your chance to be part of something unique, exciting, and truly youth-led.
Complete the forms below to join us on this exciting project or email rhia@staffscvys.org.uk to ask any questions
Apply to join the Young People's Steering Group:
Register interest in becoming an Innovator organisation:
Know Your Place Young People’s Steering Group Microsoft Form
The deadline to join the YPSG is Friday 6th June 2025
Know Your Place Innovator Organisation Microsoft Form
The deadline for expression of interest is Friday 11th July 2025
Stay Connected with Know Your Place
Follow our journey on social media and keep an eye out for upcoming events and opportunities to get involved.
Use our hashtags to stay in the loop:
#KnowYourPlace #YouthLed #YoungVoices #Staffordshire #CommunityResearch #ChangeMakers #InclusiveResearch #FutureLeaders
