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Addressing Rapid Coastal Erosion through Youth Engagement
Addressing Rapid Coastal Erosion through Youth Engagement
The East Riding of Yorkshire coast experiences some of the fastest rates of coastal erosion in the world, largely due to the soft boulder clay composition of its cliffs. These rates are accelerating significantly in response to climate drivers, particularly increased storminess and rising sea levels, which is enhancing wave loading. Sections of the coastline are retreating by over 10 meters per year.
The East Riding of Yorkshire coast experiences some of the fastest rates of coastal erosion in the world, largely due to the soft boulder clay composition of its cliffs. These rates are accelerating significantly in response to climate drivers, particularly increased storminess and rising sea levels, which is enhancing wave loading. Sections of the coastline are retreating by over 10 meters per year.
Understanding the lived experiences of children and young people and their evolving relationship with their environment, alongside fostering intergenerational dialogues within communities, can effectively help shape a more resilient and engaged community prepared for the challenges of climate change.
Understanding the lived experiences of children and young people and their evolving relationship with their environment, alongside fostering intergenerational dialogues within communities, can effectively help shape a more resilient and engaged community prepared for the challenges of climate change.
Research team and partners
Research team and partners
Lead Researcher: Katie Parsons
Lead Researcher: Katie Parsons
Partners: Withernsea High School and the Year 8 students.
Partners: Withernsea High School and the Year 8 students.
Creative content: Withernsea community members, Andy Metcalf (drone footage), Dean Wilson (Poet) and Phil Mathison (All Washed Away song)
Creative content: Withernsea community members, Andy Metcalf (drone footage), Dean Wilson (Poet) and Phil Mathison (All Washed Away song)
Methodology
Methodology
The INSECURE project was funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and employed a Participatory Action Research (PAR) methodology to explore how young people engage with, examine, and understand coastal change within their community context. The project involved over 60 students from Withernsea High School, located near the eroding cliffs, where students witness the daily impacts of the changing coastline.
The INSECURE project was funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and employed a Participatory Action Research (PAR) methodology to explore how young people engage with, examine, and understand coastal change within their community context. The project involved over 60 students from Withernsea High School, located near the eroding cliffs, where students witness the daily impacts of the changing coastline.
The participatory sessions covered key themes such as
The participatory sessions covered key themes such as
- Climate change and its role in accelerating coastal erosion
- Coastal processes and associated hazards
- A dive into Withernsea's history and the intertwined relationship between coastal change and community development.
Over 6 weeks, students explored themes through empathy and community mapping and used ArcGIS Survey 123 to place themselves within the broader community context. Students were also trained in research techniques and storytelling, gathering intergenerational stories of the past.
Over 6 weeks, students explored themes through empathy and community mapping and used ArcGIS Survey 123 to place themselves within the broader community context. Students were also trained in research techniques and storytelling, gathering intergenerational stories of the past.
Impact and Outputs
Impact and Outputs
- Creative Community Engagement: Students presented their findings through poems, short stories, videos and artwork, reflecting their observations and learnings from intergenerational interviews.
- Raising Awareness: The project highlighted how communities live with the natural processes of coastal erosion, exacerbated by climate change.
- Fostering Environmental Engagement: By acquiring new knowledge about your local environment through playful exploration, students developed a deeper sense of place and responsibility, leading to broader community-driven action.
A culmination of these outputs led to the creation of a film with the Withernsea community and students.
A culmination of these outputs led to the creation of a film with the Withernsea community and students.
RIFA is the only UK film award dedicated to celebrating and recognising arts and humanities research through film.
RIFA is the only UK film award dedicated to celebrating and recognising arts and humanities research through film.
As a result of this nomination, Katie was invited to attend an online debate during COP26 titled "Can Films Save The Planet?", exploring how filmmaking can inspire and mobilise present and future generations to adapt and respond to climate change.
As a result of this nomination, Katie was invited to attend an online debate during COP26 titled "Can Films Save The Planet?", exploring how filmmaking can inspire and mobilise present and future generations to adapt and respond to climate change.
Articles and Publications
Articles and Publications
Parsons, K, J., Halstead, F. and Jones, L. (2025) Crumbling cliffs and intergenerational cohesivity: A new climate praxis model for engaged community action on accelerated coastal change. Geoscience Communication.
Parsons, K, J., Halstead, F. and Jones, L. (2025) Crumbling cliffs and intergenerational cohesivity: A new climate praxis model for engaged community action on accelerated coastal change. Geoscience Communication.
Jones, L., Parsons, K.J., Halstead, F. and Wolstenholme, J.M., 2024. Reimaging activism to save the planet: Using transdisciplinary and participatory methodologies to support collective youth action. Children & Society, 38(3), pp.823-838.
Jones, L., Parsons, K.J., Halstead, F. and Wolstenholme, J.M., 2024. Reimaging activism to save the planet: Using transdisciplinary and participatory methodologies to support collective youth action. Children & Society, 38(3), pp.823-838.
Parsons, K, J., Halstead, F., and Jones, L. (2021) How students can use storytelling to bring the dangers of climate change to life. The Conversation
Parsons, K, J., Halstead, F., and Jones, L. (2021) How students can use storytelling to bring the dangers of climate change to life. The Conversation
Parsons, K. J., Halstead, F and Jones, L. (2021) INtergenerational Stories of Erosion and Coastal community Understanding of Resilience: INSECURE. In EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts (pp. EGU21-9478).
Parsons, K. J., Halstead, F and Jones, L. (2021) INtergenerational Stories of Erosion and Coastal community Understanding of Resilience: INSECURE. In EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts (pp. EGU21-9478).
Media Features:
Media Features:
BBC News: COP26: Flooding lessons from Hull, a city below sea level.
Hull Daily Mail: The COP26 film project flying the flag for Hull at climate talks.
Film Festivals & Events
Film Festivals & Events
Youth Film Access Festival: Film Access Scotland, 8/10th April 2022
First-Time Filmmaker Sessions: Lift-Off Global Network, Pinewood Studios, 25th October 2021
Royal Geographical Society: Films in Place Festival, Shorts 2021 by Film Geographies
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