Anna Carlile, Goldsmiths, University of London, researches the effects of permanent exclusion from school on young people, families and professionals, and more recently, through the Illuminate Student Researcher Project and the Illuminate Community Researchers Project. This work seeks to develop a deep model of youth voice and embed it meaningfully into school and community provision and governance. Some of this work was showcased at the inaugural London Youth Speaks event at Goldsmiths in July 2013, where young people spoke, debated, acted, created art, and sang about their concerns to an audience of policy makers and budget holders, including two MPs and Doreen Lawrence. The theme was ‘Youth Voice into Action’, and Discourse, Power, Resistance; the Stephen Lawrence Centre; and the Centre for Identities and Social Justice were among the organisations involved. This is an ongoing annual event: contact Anna if you are interested in participating.

Image courtesy of interviewee