Reconstructing the Social Contract
Over the last six months we have been working with a group of young people to co-produce a project which explores ‘Reconstructing the Social Contract’. The idea of a social contract between the government and its citizens, which previous generations understood, has been steadily dismantled over the past four decades. This erosion has left young people today facing an economy where, despite their hard work, the basic pillars of a secure life- affordable housing, debt free higher education, resources to raise a family and time for leisure- feel increasingly out of reach.
Through this project we wanted to uncover young people’s stories that lie beneath the statistics. Ten ‘Youth Advocates’ from across the UK came together to discuss what the social contract means to them, learn how to become Community Reporters and advocate for the changes they want to see in their communities and across the UK. The Youth Advocates started by creating their own definition of what a new social contract fit for the 21st Century should be, using this as the basis for their own community reporting. They then went out into their communities to hold interviews with their peers to discover what their hopes and fears are for the future; what they think is needed for young people to have a better life and their thoughts on youth participation in decision making.
The final film is the culmination of the Youth Advocates reporting. With over four hours of video and audio footage as well as a number of written interviews the final film gives you a snapshot of the entirety of their work.
The Youth Advocates picked three key themes the final edited film would focus on. Part 1 focuses on democracy, power imbalances and government failures. Part 2 looks at financial stability and Part 3 explores youth voice, representation and barriers to participation.
The film hosts a diversity of youth voices from all over the UK, with all of the 25 storytellers featured. We have also made the full version of each young person’s story available via the Community Reporter Network.
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