Having Your Say: Liverpool community reflections on the 2011 riots
CASE STUDY
Background
Following the riots and disturbances that took place
in Liverpool in August 2011, a forum was created for
Liverpool community groups and individuals to express
their opinions and experiences. Researchers provided
consultant expertise to the project.
The public unrest was part of a national wave of riots
that provoked debate and strong responses from the
media and politicians, amongst others. Less audible
were the voices of the communities affected. This
project responded to demands from Toxteth community
members to have their say.
The project
The online forum (hosted by the University) enabled
members of the public to express their own views of
the events. The forum posts are accessible to members
of the public and academics, effectively creating a
community archive. Like a ‘virtual museum’, the
forum features memories and attitudes surrounding
the events.
The community voices are gathered through a
collaborative and participatory approach: community
partners generate the content and capture community
members’ opinions and memories. The information
may be recorded as audio files, written statements and
visual images – it was up to the creative imagination of
community members how they want to capture
the information.
Our academics serve as mediators and assist
community members to use the archive. The research
team behind the project are confident that these
captured memories will include views about
community life in general, contrasting times of upheaval
with aspects of everyday life. The project therefore
provides an innovative and unique opportunity for the
University to engage with, and respond to, the demands
of local communities, as well as create an important
resource for academic research.
Outcomes / benefits
•
The online, public archive is a resource for
academics and other groups
•
The project raised awareness of community
groups and their activities, helping them with their
fundraising and paving the way for collaboration
and future projects among community partners
and academics
•
The forum responded to complaints by community
members in Toxteth about the reporting bias of
the media and how this was giving the area a
‘
bad name’. The archive provides community
members with a vehicle to put their views into the
public domain.
Partner
The International Slavery Museum (ISM), Unity Youth and Community Centre, Fairbridge, Toxteth
TV and associated community organisations, Theatre Practitioner Julieanne O’Malley and
different community groups in Liverpool
Activity type
Public engagement and policy advice
Academic lead(s)
Diane Frost, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, School of Law and Social Justice,
Sociology and Social Policy; Dr Helen Porter, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences,
School of Histories, Languages and Cultures, Cultures, Languages and Area Studies; Katinka
Weber, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences,School of Histories, Languages and Cultures,
Cultures, Languages and Area Studies
Society & Culture
178
