UU to conduct research into male violence

The University of Ulster is to conduct groundbreaking research into young male violence and how to deal with it.

The University is to set up the world’s first Centre for Young Men’s Studies – a research unit where the problem of violence among young men will be studied and solutions, including a training manual for those dealing with young men, will be devised.

The work of the Centre will run over five years and aims to cover four strands including:

• Research into how young men experience violence; what factors influence their violent behaviour and how violence affects family life, relationships, education, employment and leisure.
• Tracking around 300 pupils from four schools over a period of five years. This research will see how they progress from their first year in secondary school until Year 12 when they will be making important transitions to further education, training or work choices.
• Working with some of the most excluded and marginalized young men in local society.
• Training sessions will be held with professionals who encounter young men through their work – youth workers, social workers, probation officers, prison officers, community workers and teachers..

Heading up the initiative is Ken Harland and Sam McCready from the Community Youth Work team at UU.

Dr Harland said: “Northern Ireland is moving from a conflict to a post-conflict situation. In many communities young men are caught up in this transition but have not been equipped to manage or cope with this transition.

“For example, many have experienced a certain status as defenders or protectors of their communities during times of conflict but now are no longer needed in that role. Their behaviour, once lauded and feted, has been turned on and they now become a focus for criticism, violent assault and/or expulsion from that community.”

The Centre is being established following the award of a £51,000 grant from the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust and a further £18,000 from Peace II funds. UU will work on the project in partnership with YouthAction Northern Ireland.

The Rank Foundation will provide funding for two young men to act as ‘peer researchers’ during the life of the project.

(MB/SP)