Posted on 22 May 2025
Find out how we’re working with young residents, giving them a voice on where and how they want to live
Our Communities team has been working with young residents from Hyde, Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing (MTVH), Clarion Housing and Partnership for Young Londoners to get a better understanding of their experiences in housing and homelessness.
We want to increase youth leadership and to make sure young people’s voices are heard when it comes to planning and development in the housing sector. The young Hyde residents taking part in the research are Theresa Okolo and Ethan McCormick.
Hyde’s Projects and Partnerships Manager, Maddassar ‘Mads’ Arif, has been leading the project for Hyde. He said: “We formed this partnership with young people to hear first hand their experiences.
“Young people are under-represented within the housing sector. Partnership for Young Londoners is giving them a voice, and helping create our housing stars of the future. The partnership highlights the importance of getting young people into key decision-making positions – giving them a voice on where and how they want to live, and helping inform housing policy and practice for the next generation.”
Achievements so far include:
Theresa and Ethan have presented their research project to students at Goldsmith’s University on the BA Social and Community Work course. Theresa has also been a panellist at a housing conference in Manchester, and has even been interviewed by Inside Housing Magazine.
Earlier this year, the group launched their Shaping Housing Futures report – which highlights recommendations for their futures based on their own research.
The event was attended by senior professionals from the housing sector, who wanted to hear directly from young people about key issues affecting their lives. So, their voices were not only heard, but also acknowledged by decision-makers.
Our young residents are currently working with Partnership for Young Londoners on the next stage of the programme.
Summing up, Mads said: “Huge congratulations to Theresa and Ethan who acted as our peer researchers for the project – allowing us to hear first hand their experiences of housing. Your insight and recommendations will help us creature a culture where young people’s needs and voices are embedded across our services.”
Find out more about the report: Shaping Housing Futures: young residents using peer research in housing to make the invisible visible
This project is part of the GLA’s Partnership for Young Londoners programme.