Engaging NEETs through image sharing and photography: evaluating the impact on communication, self-awareness, learning

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There are over a million young people in the UK who are NEET (16-24 year old young people not ineducation, employment or training). There has been renewed political focus on this issue due tothe imposed cost on society (London, Institute for Public Policy Research, 2013). At the same time,photography has become a particularly attractive medium for young people - due to social mediaand the accessibility of camera phones (50% of Instagram users are aged 16-29 and Snapchat is themost popular network amongst teens). The proposed project will examine how this interest can beharnessed. It will look at how online image sharing and photography based methods can beapplied to groups of NEETs in order to enhance their communication and self-awareness, developtransferable skills and ultimately lead to their reengagement with learning and employment. Sincethe advent of social media and digital photography, there has been a resurgence in the use ofphotography as an agent for social and personal change (LOEWENTHAL, 2013). This has created arecognised need for new rigorous evaluation which my research will aim to provide.I hold an MA (distinction) in photography, where I researched the therapeutic use of photography. Iam a trained participatory photography facilitator and founder of HumanCamera.org - a socialenterprise that runs photography based community projects, exhibitions and workshops. My twolatest projects form the preliminary research of my doctoral study. The first was reengagement of34 unemployed, adult, mental health sufferers. It concluded with 80% of them proceeding toemployment and education, an exhibition and a photography publication available at Waterstones.The second was a project supported by the Young Academy. It looked at how photography, imagesharing and visual literacy can engage secondary school students and promote responsible andmeaningful picture sharing. The short intervention at Bramcote School consortium and the studentand teacher enquires concluded with many interested students.Aims- To evaluate how photography and online image sharing can enhance communication andself-awareness and ultimately lead to reengaging NEETs with learning and employment utilising their interest in the medium.- To determine how existing photography based methods can be developed by incorporatingonline image sharing thus creating a new replicable method for the reengagement ofNEETs.ContextThe benefits of photography as a tool for social engagement and development of health andwellbeing is a recognised and examined mechanism (LOEWENTHAL, 2013). I will draw uponexisting research on therapeutic photography - a process where no formal therapy takes place butthe participants engaging in it experience personal insight (WEISER, 1999), as well as studies onparticipatory arts and their link to improved self-expression and motivation (Arts Council England,2012). I will build upon relevant research on PhotoVoice - a participatory photography actionresearch method (WANG, 1999) and research like Literacy Through Photography - a methodologythat encourages young people to photograph scenes from their lives and use them as catalysts forexpression (Documentarystudies.duke.edu, 2011). My project will expand on this existing researchby focusing specifically on the use of these methods in reengaging NEETs and will provide newinformation on their impact and application within an online environment.My research will directly benefit organisations that need to evidence their work. It will provide anew replicable method that can be used by organisations focusing on NEETs engagement andschools that are working on NEETs prevention. Finally, it will provide insight into the use of onlinepicture sharing for the engagement of NEETs reducing the overall costs on society.