The Childhood and Youth Research Group draws together a diverse range of interdisciplinary expertise across a broad spectrum of scholarly activity, to explore, problematize, conceptualise, and transform our understandings of how ‘childhood’ and ‘youth’ are constructed, shaped, and maintained in contemporary society.

Drawing on several research areas within and across childhood studies, the humanities, and social policy, the group seeks to encourage interdisciplinary connection-making. Our research, which involves both ‘traditional’ and ‘applied’ work, aims to develop meaningful insights into childhood and youth. Our diverse interests sit within the field of sociology, including social construction, representation, and policymaking, whilst our deliberately broad remit seeks to generate new knowledge by bridging disciplinary boundaries in novel ways.

As part of our commitment to respecting and listening to youth voices, and ensuring that these inspire, inform, and drive our research, our group includes a subpanel of children and young people who act as advisors, peer researchers, and participants. Further, our group is working to develop specialist consultancy, evaluation, and training services for the benefit of various childhood- and youth-related organisations in Wales and beyond.