18 months lost and found: Reflections from a transnational participatory action research project exploring young people’s lived experiences of the COVID-19 crisis
Ecorys UK · 2022
About this report
This transnational participatory action research project engaged 70 young people aged 14–19 from the UK, Italy, Lebanon, and Singapore as co-researchers over 18 months (April 2020–November 2021) to document their lived experiences of the COVID-19 crisis. Young people reported significant educational disruption, worsening mental health, and a sense of political marginalisation, but also found unexpected opportunities for personal growth, community action, and democratic engagement. The project highlights young people's agency and resourcefulness during the pandemic, challenging media narratives that portrayed them as reckless or passive. Recommendations address governments, schools, media, and young people themselves on improving participation, mental health support, digital access, and educational accountability.
Research details
- Methodology
- ParticipatoryLongitudinalInterviewMixed methods
- Sample size
- 70
- Sample
- Young people aged 14–19 from the UK, Italy, Lebanon, and Singapore; diverse in gender (46 female, 22 male, 2 non-binary), ethnicity, socio-economic status, and health conditions; including LGBTQ+ young people, BAME young people, care leavers, young carers, and young people with complex health conditions or mental health problems.
- Who it's about
- Care-experienced / care leaversYoung carers
- Place
- UK-wide
- Youth involvement
- Co-produced
- Funder
- Nuffield Foundation