Peer researchers visit youth centres and schools
The Peer Researchers have been visiting youth centres in Devon where they have asked young people to complete a questionnaire with all their findings being recorded. They have also been working with Newton Abbot College and Dawlish College, where they delivered workshops on violence and safety to students and conducted interviews.
In their interviews they asked the following:
How often do you feel safe in your local area? (All the time, Most of the time, Some of the time, Never).
Do you feel safe being out during the day and why?
Do you feel safe being out at night and why?
What types of violence do you see in your area? (Physical violence, Sexual violence, Verbal abuse, Domestic abuse, Self harm, Emotional abuse).
Do you feel safe online and why?
How well do you think police respond to violence?
How well do you think schools respond to violence?
What would help you feel safe in your local area?
What one thing would you change to reduce youth violence?
What have they found?
Through their research so far they have found that ‘social media is often brought up by young people as a cause and influencer of youth violence (particularly Snapchat and Tiktok).’ There is also a correlation between young people growing up in a violent or abusive environment and their involvement in violent activities.
Coming up
Before the summer break, the Peer Researchers have 8 more workshops to deliver in Dawlish College
Hosting a workshop for Safer Devon on 20th June in Newton Abbot
Attending the OPCC Seminar at Exeter Racecourse in July with a 30 min slot to discuss their research findings
