Hearing children's voices in housing estate regeneration

Abstract

There is growing acknowledgement that citizens have the right to participate in policy decisions that affect them, especially in areas of socio-economic disadvantage that are subject to large-scale interventions such as housing regeneration. This article focuses on the voices of 78 Irish young people in relation to changes to their environment that affect their sense of identity, safety, belonging, place and community in ways that are different from adults. The article argues that it is crucial to use appropriate methods to engage with children and youth and reveals that they have many ideas on their area and a desire to influence the decision-making process.