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IMAGINE

IMAGINE: A UK Young Academy project which seeks to enable/inspire young people to imagine a future for themselves and others.

IMAGINE aims to support the career development of young people from challenging backgrounds, including those affected by forced migration, family separation, or who are in the care system.

In 2023, the IMAGINE project received funding from the UK Young Academy to carry out its member-led work programme, until December 2025.

Primary label: Current

Young people from challenging backgrounds often lack essential support systems such as positive role models and career guidance. Through community-led dialogues and participatory research, IMAGINE seeks to understand and address the specific needs of young people aged 14 – 18 in these settings. By identifying gaps in support and co-developing practical solutions, the project aims to enhance career navigation, mentorship access, work experience opportunities and legal awareness.

The project will also use motivational storytelling with ‘living role models’ who share similar life experiences to inspire and empower the younger generation. This approach not only promotes personal growth and resilience but also helps young people envision a compelling path towards achieving their aspirations. 

Key project outcomes include: 

  • Lead community dialogues and participatory research to comprehensively understand the needs and support systems of young people, informing the development of tailored solutions.
  • Use motivational storytelling with ‘living role models’ to engage and inspire young people, facilitating their journey towards personal growth and resilience as they pursue their goals. 
  • Raise stakeholder awareness and implement positive changes that enhance opportunities for young people facing significant challenges.

This programme of work is currently funded by the UK Young Academy until December 2025. This page will be updated with the latest information about ways to get involved with this workstream. If you would like to speak to a member of staff about this project, please email us via enquiries@ukyoungacademy.org.  

Information

Project Status
Current

Members

Leads

Barbara Hughes-Moore

Lecturer in Law

Cardiff University

Linda Oyama

Lecturer in Microbiomics, Antimicrobial Resistance and One Health

Queen's University Belfast

Fatemeh Shahbazi

Assistant Professor

University of Warwick

Supporting

Ralph Akyea

Senior Research Fellow

University of Nottingham

Ana Blanco Alvarez

Senior Lecturer in Infrastructure Engineering

Loughborough University

Igor Chernyavsky

Presidential Academic Fellow

University of Manchester

David Hester

Senior Lecturer in Civil Engineering

Queen’s University Belfast

Abdo Koko

Higher Research Scientist

National Physical Laboratory

Antonia Liguori

Professor of Participatory Storytelling and Public Policy

Teesside University

Alexander Lloyd

Research Fellow

University College London

Emily Lowthian

Lecturer in Education

Swansea University

Mengyao Lu

Research Fellow

University of Edinburgh

Sophie Meekings

Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Research Fellow

University of York

Victoria Miyandazi

Research Fellow (Knight Fellow in Legal and Constitutional Research)

University of St Andrews

John-Mark Philo

UKRI Future Leaders Fellow

University of East Anglia

Charles Maurice Pigott

Lecturer in Hispanic Studies

University of Strathclyde

Mirain Rhys

Senior Lecturer, Psychology

Cardiff Metropolitan University

Sandeep Sandhu

Head of Stakeholder Relationships

Innovate UK Business Connect

Fiona Walport

Lecturer in Structural Design

University College London

Vanissa Wanick

Senior Lecturer in Interaction Design

University of Southampton

IMAGINE project milestones

As we start on this new programme of work, we aim to outline the critical milestones that will shape our path forward.

These milestones are crucial checkpoints, guiding our progress and providing stakeholders with opportunities to contribute to upcoming activities.

Completed Completed Completed Completed CompletedCompleted
Completed

By July 2024

Secure ethical approval and finalise quantitative questionnaires with the aim of gaining insights into the needs of young people and the support currently available to them.
Finalisation of quantitative questionnaires.
Completed

By September 2024

Recruit individuals to be living role models whose stories will be curated into engaging formats for the project webpage to inspire and inform the younger generation.
Recruitment of living role models whose stories will be curated into engaging format.
Completed

By February 2025

Organise Q&A sessions, led by young people alongside the living role models, both online and in-person. In parallel, gather insights into the needs and aspirations of young people through focus groups and round tables.
Q&A sessions will be organised.

By May 2025

Finalise a comprehensive report and summary of findings, followed by an engagement campaign to share these with local schools and authorities, advocating for improved support for young people facing significant challenges.
A comprehensive report and summary of findings will be finalised, followed by an engagement campaign.

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