Youth-led Research into AI

We are looking for two youth groups to join a 9 month, funded digital inclusion feasibility project. Could that be you? The aim of this project is to facilitate young people to contribute directly to research into aspects of AI that most directly impact on their education and potential routes to future life, including employment.

This project is part of our wider digital youth work programme to enable young people to develop the digital skills and critical thinking that will empower them to succeed in an increasingly digitalised world. The project will run from April – December 2025 and provides £6.5K of funding to each youth organisation to cover staff-time, equipment and expenses. 

Complete the application form here.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 28th March.

You and your group:  

• Around 6 – 10 young people, age 13 – 18, who are excited by the idea of exploring how AI is impacting young people’s lives in Scotland with young people who are already interested in this area. 
• Interested in a youth-led research project to carry out research and contribute to resources for the youth work sector. 
• Willing to engage with all the different aspects of the project including research, developing knowledge about the topic, data gathering, reflecting on the journey and evaluating the impact on those involved.
• Aligned with the Include+ Principles  

The programme will offer:  

• Funded workshops to provide inputs that enable your group to explore AI.
• Training and support to deliver a youth-led research project.
• Evaluation support to understand the youth work journey and the impact on the young people.
• Financial support for youth worker time and young people’s expenses (£6.5K per organisation).
• Additional financial support to develop creative outputs and resources from the project.
   

The project aims to: 

• Empower young people directly with digital skills that will help them succeed in our increasingly digitalised world
• Apply a youth-led research methodology to a new area of significant relevance to young people’s lives.
• Support youth workers and young people to develop their knowledge around AI, ethical approaches and critical thinking.
• Support young people to scope and carry out research of direct interest to them.

Topics and Outputs

Each group of young people would develop their own area of research interest, carry out their research and develop their output which would become part of a youth work AI resource. 

The project would build on existing digital youth work theory and practice, but always with young people at the heart, and always with a view to building connections  with the worlds of education and work. We would run an event to share the activities with other groups through our Digital Youth Network (across Scotland) and other links across UK and Europe. There would be an opportunity to contribute to an Include+ conference in Leeds.  As part of the project YouthLink Scotland would publish guidance and resources for youth workers and this would be incorporated in the Scottish AI Alliance Playbook.  

More information?  Contact Hilary Phillips hphillips@youthlink.scot