Young people’s voices are often left out from policy conversations about health and wellbeing. We might wrongly assume that young people are healthier, with lower burdens of chronic disease compared to average adults in London.
However, young people are increasingly facing challenges to health and wellbeing rooted in the UK’s cost of living crisis, austerity policies that have driven cuts to youth services and youth centres, and a mental health crisis that was exacerbated during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Through our collaborative research under ‘The Living Roots Project’, we used participatory and arts-based methodologies to uncover these challenges to health and wellbeing in the Ealing borough of London. Young people often feel left out – that their voices are not heard by those in positions of power. From the project’s inception, we employed two youth co-researchers who worked with us to conduct research in Ealing youth centres and schools to understand how young people experience health and wellbeing today. They conducted semi-structured interviews, school-based workshops, and other group discussions.
A vital component of the work was using arts-based sessions to empower young people to explore, articulate, and document these challenges to health and wellbeing. This arts-based methodology enabled young people to articulate challenges that they may not be able to do otherwise. They focused on themes related to inequality such as housing insecurity and quality, discipline and punishment in schools, and expanded forms of policing that disproportionately affect youth of colour in the borough. These everyday forms of structural violence drive a constraining environment that leaves young people, particularly from racialised backgrounds and those in ‘deprived’ areas of Ealing, feeling constrained with regular threats to mental wellbeing. Through this research and engagement, young people have called for:
- An increase in Youth Clubs to provide safe, creative and social spaces for young people, free of charge and outside of school hours.
- A decrease in punitive disciplinary measures in secondary schools including Academy’s, particularly in relation to minor breaches of school behavioural polices i.e. not sitting in ‘correct position’ in class.
- An increase in the offer of creative subjects at secondary school including Academy’s, such as art, music, drama, photography, film studies, dance etc. with emphasis on inter-play between fulfilling curriculum guidelines and creative expressions relevant to student co-hort. We note that this can only happen when teachers have more freedom within the scope of the curriculum to tailor lessons in accordance with both their students interests and their own.
Our culminating event was on Friday 10th November 2023. Young people from Bollo Brook Youth Centre in South Acton (Bollo) and Northolt Library co-hosted a successful arts event at ActOne Cinema in Acton. The event showcased three stunning works of art that creatively explored some of the most important issues to young people concerning mental and physical health. One piece, a decorated moped (see image) made at Bollo, included a podcast aimed at young people that guests took time to listen to and discuss.
Young people performed live music and spoken word poetry to a rapt audience. There was a huge amount of support, with guests including Ealing’s Mayor, several Councillors, representation from Ealing’s Public Health, local community groups Acton Youth Association and Yardo, amongst others. Without the draw of the creative works of art, young people’s voices may have continued unheard.
The event and the youth participatory action research formed part of the Ealing’s Living Roots Project, which was a partnership between Ealing Council, NHS, the Young Foundation, Southall Community Alliance, Voices of Colour and the Institute for Developmental Studies. The overall funders were the Arts and Humanities Research Council.
With special thanks to Yasmin Dosanjh, the arts lead at Bollo and Northolt Library, Godwin Kyeremeh and Reuben Griffiths, Bollo’s sound engineers, Ky Lewis, Ami Kourouma, Tazzyi, Tori and Tayah for performing, all the staff at Bollo and Northolt, and Steve Curtis and Colin Brent from the Integrated Youth Service for overseeing this aspect of the Living Roots project.
Health and wellbeing in Ealing: Spoken word poetry by Ami Kourouma
Imagine being young and ethnic growing up in the ghettos of west London. Posters everywhere saying be authentic. Behind every landmark is a street corner you don’t want to be caught lacking in. Pretty people walking in stilettos and oxfords. I know their dividends and stock funds runs into the tons. While I see my mummy struggle to get me those Nike’s I really want, yeah the (Jordan) ones.
As my development is at its peak, I’m at school, constantly being told to leap. The creativity being sucked out of me as I speak. Can’t be controlled in class, so they try mould me into something I’m not meant to be. I can’t remember the last time I walked into a classroom, knowing I wasn’t the topic of conversation in the staffroom. Breaking out saying “Yo Miss I need the bathroom” Only to be the centre of attention on the risk of suspension, but all I wanted was an extension to mention the shit I have to go through daily. It’s just misapprehension, now I’m stuck in a 2 hour detention.
The Lack of expression is unreal in school, and you’re not allowed to question, just expected to turn up to lessons. Listen to sir babble on about YOUR life because he’s made it his profession. Stick to lesson plan if your dreams include succession. Problem child, yeah yeah that’s me. But who ever took the time to discover and remove the barriers that was constantly challenging me?
Nuisance, disruptive, loud. Turning a ethnic kid into a statistic, because of assumed characteristics. But It was just a description, given when I deviated from position.
We’ve all been assigned a social worker or 2, naaaa maybe a few. But mine she felt more like a lurker. “We’re only here to help” That’s what they tell you. (But) She’s going further into my head, now I feel like an observer, just a witness to my own mental murder. She’s just ticking off boxes, like it’s her mission, no thought for my feelings its just scarring then I end up having to deal so I can heal.
Sitting in a 2 bed council flat, overcrowded as f**k. Overclouds over the estate, day by day the cost of living rates keep going up, It’s hard for families to sustain the pressure that come with that kind of weight. Turn on BBC One and it’s just constant debates, Sunak’s only interested in Ukraine & economic updates. Never mind the socioeconomic indifference, between me her her, or him. Statistics show that my life isn’t expected to feel astronomic. The numbers show that and it’s chronically funny it could be comic.
So I’m smoking now, but when I’m asked I just say Colin Bruv I’m not choking I’m toking. Invoking my right to purchase nicotine Even tho my lungs are breaking down, I still end up shaking every time I ain’t partaking in this thing called vaping. My young gs asking if I’ve tried Blueberry Ice flavour, you’re like 5 bruv do me a favour. Look how Nicotine has done a generation in… Corporations created a combination of certain chemicals now it’s been lost in translation that it’s healthier than a cigarette, dear god what’s next.
But onto brighter days, cause along the way I’ve solidified forever friendships, the type that lasts more than a day. The friendships that keep you whole, that make you feel like there isn’t a void. We take selfies, that help ease the stresses, my friends are my sounding board and I don’t need to compress. There’s just happiness joy, laughter a space to express.
Always having my faith in the almighty, said his name all those nights I felt a little bit more hungry, now I’m here and I’m just thankful, cause I know he sent me down angels. Without my faith I wouldn’t be here. Wrapped his Heavenly arms wrapped around me, protected me from all negativity that surrounds me. His energy is always around me, Dear Lord thank you for letting me know that I’m in your memory, you’re a part of my identity.
Thank you Ealing for the diversity, my ends is full of so much colour. Everywhere I look I see a different face. South Acton’s in my blood, there’s not a thing that I’d change. People in this area make up one big family. We come together when it counts, we’re always there when it matters
I attend bollo and it’s worth it, to see my name in the credits and to know on that film Ami worked on it. Camera set and Action, BANDO, I am She, LUCKY… We’re in Hollywood, putting Ealing on the map, revealing the talent we’ve got on deck.
Mary, Colin, Anna, Sahira, Pat. The dream team that do it all. For all these years they’ve repped bollo and helped kids like me stand tall. Helped us discover who we are and most of all be who we are. Always there to be that shoulder to lean on.
They’ve showed me eloquent practice their approach, never deviated from their personal traits, don’t believe in fate. Gave me the keys to my mind, showed me how to set aside my pride, put me in my element, no hidden agendas, this was all for my development.
And to you it’s forever thank you.
