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

There are over a million young people in the UK who are NEET (16-24 year old young people not in
education, employment or training). There has been renewed political focus on this issue due to
the 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 media
and the accessibility of camera phones (50% of Instagram users are aged 16-29 and Snapchat is the
most popular network amongst teens). The proposed project will examine how this interest can be
harnessed. It will look at how online image sharing and photography based methods can be
applied to groups of NEETs in order to enhance their communication and self-awareness, develop
transferable skills and ultimately lead to their reengagement with learning and employment. Since
the advent of social media and digital photography, there has been a resurgence in the use of
photography as an agent for social and personal change (LOEWENTHAL, 2013). This has created a
recognised 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. I
am a trained participatory photography facilitator and founder of HumanCamera.org - a social
enterprise that runs photography based community projects, exhibitions and workshops. My two
latest projects form the preliminary research of my doctoral study. The first was reengagement of
34 unemployed, adult, mental health sufferers. It concluded with 80% of them proceeding to
employment 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, image
sharing and visual literacy can engage secondary school students and promote responsible and
meaningful picture sharing. The short intervention at Bramcote School consortium and the student
and teacher enquires concluded with many interested students.
Aims
- To evaluate how photography and online image sharing can enhance communication and
self-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 incorporating
online image sharing thus creating a new replicable method for the reengagement of
NEETs.
Context
The benefits of photography as a tool for social engagement and development of health and
wellbeing is a recognised and examined mechanism (LOEWENTHAL, 2013). I will draw upon
existing research on therapeutic photography - a process where no formal therapy takes place but
the participants engaging in it experience personal insight (WEISER, 1999), as well as studies on
participatory 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 action
research method (WANG, 1999) and research like Literacy Through Photography - a methodology
that encourages young people to photograph scenes from their lives and use them as catalysts for
expression (Documentarystudies.duke.edu, 2011). My project will expand on this existing research
by focusing specifically on the use of these methods in reengaging NEETs and will provide new
information on their impact and application within an online environment.
My research will directly benefit organisations that need to evidence their work. It will provide a
new replicable method that can be used by organisations focusing on NEETs engagement and
schools that are working on NEETs prevention. Finally, it will provide insight into the use of online
picture sharing for the engagement of NEETs reducing the overall costs on society.