The Potential of Youth Participation in Planning

Abstract

The field of planning is increasingly recognizing youth as an important stakeholder group, and there are calls to directly involve youth in planning processes. Because youth are in many respects different from adults, the practice of youth participation needs special consideration. This article summarizes the findings from empirical studies of youth participation in terms of the impacts on the young participants and their communities, the capacity of youth to participate, and five lessons for effective practice. The literature review will help planners create meaningful opportunities for youth to have a voice in community and environmental affairs.

Disused Religious Space: Youth Participation in Built Heritage Regeneration

“…The potential benefits of youth participation have been highlighted and summarised by Frank (2006). The involvement can impact positively on youth knowledge and skills as well as attitudes and behaviour.…”

“…According to Matthews (2001) young people of this age range (under 18) are 'seemingly invisible in decision making processes' but much can be gained for their inclusion in developing the built environment. Planning has far-reaching implications for youth because they are the generation that will experience the results of any planning decisions the longest (Frank 2006). The size of the youth population and their feelings of social isolation are two several compelling reasons for planners to pay attention to youth (Frank 2006).…”

“…Planning has far-reaching implications for youth because they are the generation that will experience the results of any planning decisions the longest (Frank 2006). The size of the youth population and their feelings of social isolation are two several compelling reasons for planners to pay attention to youth (Frank 2006). Youth aged 11-17 are of particular concern as this neglected social grouping is unable to vote and as such has less political power, yet like adults they are users of the physical and built environment.…”

Added value from European Territorial Co-operation: the impact of demographic change in the Alps on the young

“…A lack of employment opportunities in modern services such as finance, ICT, scientific and technical services has been reported (Ministry of Regional Development, 2013) in several regions. Introduction of new businesses by the young is often hindered by a persistence of local policies to discourage new industries in order to support traditional ones (Jones, 1999;Frank, 2006). As reported in the Italian region of South Tyrol, they are sometimes even reluctant to take over established and traditional family-run businesses in hotel and catering.…”

Educating Future Planners about Working with Children and Young People

“…This corpus includes studies about children's/young people's citizenship and right to participate in decisions affecting their lives (Simpson, 1997;Tonucci & Rissotto, 2001), their participatory competence (Chawla & Heft, 2002;Frank, 2006), methods (Driskell, 2002;Horelli, 1998;Porter et al, 2010) and ethics (Aldridge, 2012;Christensen, 2004;Lansdown, 2011;Morrow & Richards, 1996). Furthermore, there is a growing literature examining the pedagogical and practical outcomes that emerge when university students, children/young peo-ple and professionals work together on planning and design projects (Derr, 2015;Derr, Chawla, Mintzer, Cushing, & Van Vliet, 2013;Torres, 2012).…”