This report is an overview of the lessons learnt from a series of ‘community mapping’ exercises undertaken in the partner municipalities of Newcastle upon Tyne (UK) and Rotterdam (Netherlands), and supported by the SMC Kiruna (Sweden).

This report seeks to understand the process of social exclusion from multiple perspectives or dimensions and to see how an organisational perspective overlaps and differs from the perspective of excluded youth. The report also looked at ways to use the understanding and insight gained from the views of excluded youth to make better policy decisions.

The project adopted an open-ended approach to develop methods for contacting groups / individuals. This approach was instigated and developed with academic and technical support from SMC Kiruna, (Sweden).

This is presented as a network model to build research-subject contacts within (i) area based networks; (ii) ‘excluded youth’ networks, and (iii) formal education networks. Mixed and multi-methods were developed, tested and adapted in practice using these networks.

This work was undertaken as part of the ‘Dimensions of Social Exclusion and Urban Change’ project, funded by the European Commission budget line B3-4112 Preparatory Actions to Combat and Prevent Social Exclusion.

A series of key policy findings common to both case study cities are drawn from this research exercise.

First, effective engagement with excluded youth is possible if we adopt a different professional approach that is flexible and non-judgemental.

Second, municipal support is necessary for open learning and the development and maintenance of ‘learning networks’ within cities.

Finally, systemic and dynamic relationships between the multiple causes and effects of social exclusion are best explained and communicated through the configuration of interrelated indicators.

Ignite North East
Phone: +44 (0)191 229 6200
Kirsteen.thompson@onenortheast.co.uk

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Michael Crilly

research

Urban Policy

Social inclusion & integration