Creating Citizenship Communities

The project ‘Creating Citizenship Communities’ is funded by the EsméeFairbairn Foundation and is being conducted by a partnership team from theDepartment of Education, University of York and the National Foundation forEducational Research. This article describes the project design and drawsattention to issues emerging from data analysis. An indication is given of theactions to be taken with professionals and young people in light of theproject findings. An argument is made for the need to co-ordinate work inschools by developing stronger liaison between citizenship educationteachers and those responsible for whole school initiatives to promotecommunity engagement; and helping teachers to build on young people’sexisting knowledge and expertise in community matters to help themunderstand and act more effectively in society.