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OPEN Project - Shetland

Between 2021-2023 with funding from the Ideas Fund, young people from the OPEN Project in Shetland were matched with professional researchers to support them to conduct research firstly on a space for young people and then the impact of alcohol and other drugs. Our Senior Researcher Amy Calder was one of the professionals supporting the young people – through providing training and support in research ethics, data methods and data analysis.

Shannon Boston

One of the peer researchers for the project Shannon Boston shared their research journey through a blog series. Shannon explains more about the youth-led research process, including what they’ve learned, what tools they’ve used and what support they received along the way.

You can read Shannon’s blogs below.

Part One: Finding a Place and Space
In part one, Shannon explains the start of their youth-led research journey and the tools they are using to help inform the research
Three young people standing in front of the Hot Chocolate Trust in Dundee.
Part Two: Visiting Hot Chocolate Trust
In part two, Shannon shares their learning from a trip to Hot Chocolate Trust in Dundee to see how they have created a space for young people
Miro Board
Part Three: Alcohol and Other Drugs Research Project
In part three, Shannon discusses how they're choosing to explore the impact of alcohol and other drugs in Shetland
Shannon and Akira smile for the camera indoors, holding some of their research papers for the camera
Part Four: Alcohol and Other Drugs Research Project
In part four, Shannon explains how the Alcohol and Other Drugs Research Project was taking shape and progress on data collection

Part Five: Alcohol and Other Drugs Research Project, the end of the journey
In the fifth and final part, Shannon shares how they worked with partners to get more responses to their survey and how they will be disseminating their findings
My Youth-Led Research Journey
Shannon wrote an article for the Social Research Association magazine - Research Matters. You can read the article on page 4.

Contact our Research Team

If you're interested in hearing more about youth-led research with OPEN Project in Shetland or any other research projects contact our Senior Policy and Research Officer Dr Amy Calder

Email Amy