Research and knowledge exchange
Our current research projects and how our work is influencing policy and practice.
Current research projects
Funded by: Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) United Kingdom Research Initiative (UKRI). Mobile Arts for Peace Large Grant
The research team is led by Dr Laura Wright (University of Edinburgh), with Professor Kay Tisdall and others.
Learn more about Mobile Arts for Peace (MAP)
For more information, contact Laura Wright.
Funded by: British Academy Early Career Network Grant 2023 (BAS2023-54)
The research is led by Dr Sarah Ward (University of Edinburgh) and Dr. Maureen McBride (University of Glasgow).
Following recent health, socio-economic and climate crises, youth activism has become critical in generating social change. However, activists from disadvantaged backgrounds experience multiple barriers to participation. This pilot project explores the barriers/enablers that support disadvantaged youth activists’ involvement in social movements for change. By exploring lived experience, we aim to build towards a larger grant application by a) shaping a collaborative research design, and b) building collaborative relationships with youth activists.
Funded by: The Economic and Social Research Council
The research team is led by Professor Jane Callaghan (University of Stirling) and involves a number of academics and other stakeholders. At the University of Edinburgh, it involves Professor John Devaney (CoI), Dr Claire Houghton (CoI), Kay Steven (Former Research Fellow), Dr Fiona Morrison (CoI), Professor Kay Tisdall (CoI) and Dr Camille Warrington (Senior Research Fellow).
CAFADA learns from promising innovations in social care, for social work, police and criminal justice, and in domestic abuse and children’s organisations in Scotland and England.
For further information, please contact us.
Funded by: The Froebel Trust
Froebelian Futures is a partnership with Cowgate Under 5s and the University of Edinburgh.
Programme Director and Co-Director:
Other University of Edinburgh members are:
- Luke Addison
- Catriona Gill
- Dr Kristina Konstantoni
- Dr Marlies Kustatscher
- Dr Maggie Morrison
- Professor John Ravenscroft
- Professor Kay Tisdall
- Jane Whinnet
This three-year programme aims to strengthen and deepen child and community-centred early years practice across Scotland, based on the foundational principles of Friedrich Froebel.
Funded by: Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada
The research team is led by Tara Collins (Toronto Metropolitan University) and involves a large number of children and young people, academics, non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders. At the University of Edinburgh, it involves Dr Patricio Cuevas-Parra, Professor Kay Tisdall and Dr Laura Wright as part of the management team and our partners the Children's Parliament.
Funded by: World Vision International
The research team is led by Professor Kay Tisdall (University of Edinburgh) with Dr Karina Padilla Malca.
Research Network on Children’s Human Rights: Mobilising expertise from research, policy and practice
Funded by: RSE Network Grant.
The grant is led by Professor Kay Tisdall (University of Edinburgh), with Professor Jennifer Davidson (Strathclyde University) and Dr Fiona Morrison (University of Edinburgh).
Funded by UKRI & GCRF
Partnership between:
- Childhood and Youth Studies, Moray House School of Education and Sport at the University of Edinburgh
- The Children’s Institute, University of Cape Town, South Africa
- The International Center for Research and Policy on Childhood at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (CIESPI/PUC-Rio) Brazil
- Bethlehem University
- University of Eswatini, Eswatini
This international research project aims to identify and develop safe, inclusive participative pedagogy that is implementable in fragile contexts and sustainable for governments, communities and families.
Influencing policy and practice
Details of some of our work engaging across research, policy and practice contexts.
We are a collaborative of Scottish organisations working to drive implementation of children’s human rights in Scotland, with local impact and global learning.
On 4th February 2021, the webinar ‘Implementing Children’s Rights in Scotland – Developing Systems of Child-Friendly Complaints, Remedy and Redress’ held an in-depth discussion in light of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) Scotland Bill.
The webinar was chaired by Bruce Adamson (Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland). Speakers included:
- Fiona Morrison (University of Stirling)
- Máire McCormack and Kay Tisdall (University of Edinburgh)
- Andy Sirel (JustRight Scotland)
- Ursula Kilkelly (University College Cork)
- Katie Boyle (University of Stirling)
- Rosemary Agnew (Scottish Public Services Ombudsman)
The seminar was hosted by:
- Childhood and Youth Studies' Research Group, University of Edinburgh
- Centre for Child Wellbeing and Protection, University of Stirling
- Observatory of Children's Human Rights Scotland
Watch the webinar
- Video: Webinar: Implementing Children’s Rights in Scotland – Developing Systems of Child-Friendly Complaints, Remedy and Redress
- The webinar considered how the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill might be improved to embed systems of complaints, remedy and redress for children in Scotland. During the webinar we discussed how such systems might operate and how they can help public institutions implement and uphold children’s rights. The webinar was chaired by Bruce Adamson (Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland). Speakers included: Fiona Morrison (University of Stirling), Máire McCormack and Kay Tisdall (University of Edinburgh), Andy Sirel (JustRight Scotland), Ursula Kilkelly (University College Cork), Katie Boyle (University of Stirling), and Rosemary Agnew (Scottish Public Services Ombudsman). The seminar was hosted by the Childhood and Youth Studies' Research Group (University of Edinburgh), the Centre for Child Wellbeing and Protection (University of Stirling), and the Observatory of Children's Human Rights Scotland.
- PowerPoint slides of the webinar
- Webinar briefing
- Our blog highlighting key learning from the webinar: Embedding Systems of Child-Friendly: Complaints, Remedy and Redress in Scotland
Find out more about the consultation
The Children (Scotland) Bill
In April 2019, the First Minister made a commitment to pass a law within the next two years that will incorporate the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) into Scots law. From May to August 2019 the Scottish Government held a consultation on how a new Act could incorporate the UNCRC into the law of Scotland.
Kay Tisdall wrote a profile of Scottish childhood policy, for the British Academy’s Childhood Programme.
Ruth Friskney, Fiona Morrison and Kay Tisdall gave evidence to the Justice Committee (Scottish Parliament) on the Children (Scotland) Bill.
This contribution is connected with the the following research projects:
- Children’s Participation in Family Actions
- Improving Justice in Child Contact
Scottish Women's Aid, Children 1st, Professor Kay Tisdall (University of Edinburgh) and Dr Fiona Morrison (University of Stirling) submitted a joint briefing on the Stage 2 debates of the Children (Scotland) Bill in June 2020. A copy of the briefing is available below.
Scottish Women’s Aid (with input from Yello!, an expert group of young people who have experienced domestic abuse and the family courts), Children 1st, Professor Kay Tisdall (University of Edinburgh) and Dr Fiona Morrison (University of Stirling) submitted a joint briefing in advance of the Stage 3 debate on the Children (Scotland) Bill on the 25th August. A copy of the briefing is available below.
Dr Fiona Morrison (University of Stirling), Máire McCormack and Professor Kay Tisdall (University of Edinburgh) submitted a briefing to the Equality and Human Rights Committee in response to a call for views on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill on the 16th October 2020. A copy of the briefing is available below.
Evidence submitted to the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women and Girls report on violence against women and children in custody cases.
Further Information about Custody Cases
Download Dr Fiona Morrison and Prof Kay Tisdall's response to the UN's Call for Evidence
Past projects
Innovation and Creativity in the Third Sector in response to COVID-19: A Rapid Realist Evidence Synthesis (2021-2023)
Funded by: The Scottish Government
The research team was led by Dr Michael Roy (Glasgow Caledonian University) with Dr Claire Bynner (University of Edinburgh) and Dr Simon Teasdale (Queen’s University, Belfast).
The project's overarching aim was to understand the role of third sector organisations in innovating to ensure support to vulnerable and disadvantaged people during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Shaping Youth Futures – Young Livelihood options in creative inclusive cities (2020-2023)
Funded by: The British Academy, Global Challenges Research Fund
The research team was led by Dr Sukanya Krishnamurthy (University of Edinburgh), with Mary Ann Powell (Consultant), Irene Rizzini (CIESPI, Brazil), Roshni Kishore Nuggehalli (Youth for Unity and Voluntary Action, India), Kanak Tiwari (National Institute of Urban Affairs), Bharath Palavalli (Fields of View, India), Professor Kay Tisdall (University of Edinburgh, CoI).
Using creative and accessible outputs, the research team engaged with young and adult stakeholders to transform local policies and practices, and provided lessons nationally and cross-nationally to support youth livelihood options that create inclusive cities.
The Play-Café Project: What would Froebelian play cafés look like? (2021-2023)
Funded by: The Froebel Trust
The research team was led by Dr Kristina Konstantoni with The Network for Children’s Rights (NGO, Greece). Further team members were Dr Lynn McNair, Dr Marlies Kustatscher, and Dr Laura Wright.
Transdisciplinary Research for the Improvement of Youth Mental Public Health (TRIUMPH) Network (2018-2023)
Funded by: RCUK Cross-Council Mental Health Network Plus Call
The network was led by Professor Joanna Inchley (University of Glasgow) and involved a large number of children and young people, academics, non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders. At the University of Edinburgh, it involved Professor Kay Tisdall as CoI.
TRIUMPH brough together young people, health practitioners, policy-makers and those working with voluntary organisations, with academics from across clinical, social sciences, arts and humanities, design, and computer sciences disciplines. By working together we found new ways to improve mental health and wellbeing, especially among vulnerable and disadvantaged groups where need is greatest.
Turning the Page: youth engagement and policy impact through arts and music with public libraries in Cali (2023)
Funded by: UKRI ODA Impact and Development Grant
The research team was led by Dr Marlies Kustatscher (University of Edinburgh), with Professor Kay Tisdall (University of Edinburgh), Klaje Collective and further Colombian partners.
Understanding Gender-Based Violence against diasporic LGBTQ youth. (2023)
Funded by: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council & Women and Gender Equality Canada. Knowledge Synthesis Grant
The research team was led by Dr Laura Wright (University of Edinburgh) with Doris Kakuru. University of Victoria.
Children as Innovators – Harnessing the creative expertise of children to address practical and psycho-social challenges of COVID-19 Pandemic
This research explored strategies in the home and community, where children’s creative and innovative responses helped them and their friends and families adjust to changes during and after the pandemic. It considered how children’s actions in the pandemic may affect the ability of others in their community to adjust to changes.
The research team was led by Dr Suja Somanadhan (University College Dublin). Professor Kay Tisdall (The University of Edinburgh) was a reasearch team member.
Domestic Abuse Court Cases: The Views and Experiences of Child and Adult Victims and Witnesses in Domestic Abuse Court Cases (2021-2022)
Funded by: The Scottish Government
The research team was led by Dr Claire Houghton (PI, University of Edinburgh), Dr Fiona Morrison (CoI, University of Stirling/ University of Edinburgh), Dr Camille Warrington (Researcher, University of Edinburgh) and Professor Kay Tisdall (CoI, University of Edinburgh).
Children’s Participation in Business (2019-2021)
- Tara Collins, Ryerson University
- Christina McMellon, University of Edinburgh
- Hyun Ju Shin, Ryerson University
- Kay Tisdall, University of Edinburgh
- Global Child Forum Corporate Guide: Children’s Participation – how to involve children in decision-making (2021)
Cuál es la verdad? (What is the Truth?) De-constructing collective memories and imagining alternative futures with young people in Chocó through music and art (2019-2021)
- Dr Marlies Kustatscher
- Edwar Alexis Calderon
- Tony Evanko
- Juan Manuel Gomez
- Professor Kay Tisdall
Improving Justice in Child Contact (IJCC) (2018-21)
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Professor Kay Tisdall
We Play Festival [The Play-Café Festival: Pop up play-cafés as radical public spaces for community engagement, learning, research and impact]
Funded by College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. University of Edinburgh , The Froebel Trust and Moray House School of Education and Sport
The research team was led by Dr Kristina Konstantoni and Simon Bateson.
Child Activists for Ending Child Marriage: Exploring children’s experiences in Bangladesh and Ghana (2018-2020)
Partnership between Professor Kay Tisdall (University of Edinburgh) and Dr Patricio Cuevas-Parra (World Vision International) with the support of World Vision Bangladesh (Stralla Rupa Mollick), World Vision Ghana (Gregory Dery) and fieldwork support in Ghana by Patrick Brobbey.
Event: International Day of the Girl - Exploring Child Activism to End Child Marriage | 11 Oct 2021
Event: International Day of the Girl: Exploring Child Activism to End Child Marriage | 11 Oct 2019
World Vision and the University of Edinburgh, in collaboration with Girls Not Brides and Child Rights Connect. United Nations Palace, Geneva.
Report for US AID
Other publications
Cuevas-Parra, P. and Tisdall, E.K.M. (2022) ‘Investing in Activism: Learning from children’s actions to stop child marriage’, Childhood 29(4): 529-544.
Children’s Participation in Family Actions: Probing Compliance with Children’s Human Rights (2018-2020)
- Dr Fiona Morrison (PI, University of Stirling)
- Clan Childlaw
- Professor Kay Tisdall (CoI, University of Edinburgh)
- Judith Warburton (Researcher, University of Stirling)
Publications
- Morrison, F., Tisdall E.K.M., Warburton, J, Reid, A. and Jones, F. (2020), Children's Participation In Family Actions - Probing Compliance With Children's Rights Research Report
- Morrison, F., Callaghan, J. and Tisdall, E.K.M. (2020) ‘Manipulation and Domestic Abuse in Contested Contact – Threats to Children’s Participation Rights’, Family Court Review 58(2): 403-416
- Tisdall, E.K.M., Morrison, F. and Warburton, J. (2021) ‘Challenging undue influence? Rethinking children’s participation in contested child contact’, Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law 43(1): 8-22
Child-led Research (2019)
Partnership between Professor Kay Tisdall (University of Edinburgh) and Dr Patricio Cuevas-Parra (World Vision International)
- Child-led Research: From participating in research to leading it (video)
- Child Participating: Addressing inequalities in decision-making (video)
Research Briefing: Child-led research – from participating in research to leading it (5.12 MB PDF)
Language, Place and Identity: exploring children’s linguistic and cognitive development in heritage and community languages (2018-19)
Scoping Reviews in relation to key topics for children and young people with learning difficulties (2018-19)
- Professor Kay Tisdall (PI, University of Edinburgh)
- Dr Ruth Friskney (Researcher, University of Edinburgh)
- Dr Dinah Aitken (Salvesen Mindroom Centre)
Publications
- Communication Matters - Three scoping studies about the experiences of children with learning difficulties, and their families, in Scotland (439.82 KB PDF)
- Research Briefing: Professional experiences of parental support seeking (561.26 KB PDF)
- Research Briefing: Accessing information: Experiences of parents (698.5 KB PDF)
- Research Briefing: Key factors to a positive experience of mainstream schooling (560.67 KB PDF)
The effect of gambling marketing and advertising on children, young people and vulnerable people (2018-19)
Led by Ipsos MORI. Professor Kay Tisdall consultant.
Publications
Events
The Children and Young People Research Hub regularly hosts events related to our research. You can see upcoming and past events and view recordings and slides from previous events on the Hub's events page.