In this post, Grace explains how it’s still legal to discriminate against young people in Northern Ireland based on their age. She highlights Sugden’s Age Discrimination Bill, a new plan to fix this by ensuring kids are treated fairly when using services and facilities. Using data from the RADICAL research project, Grace shows that while young people define respect as being heard and taken seriously, many feel they are forced to give respect to adults without getting any in return.

CLICK HERE to read Grace's blog.

In this blog, Demilade highlights how disrespect has been normalised in schools, despite society considering them as safe spaces for young people. Expanding on the results of the RADICAL project, she explains that it shouldn't be considered "radical" to treat students with respect and that involving young researchers helps ensure their voices are heard "loud, clear and true".  Demilade calls for a culture shift—from the principal down to the youngest students—because once people actually recognise the problem, then the real change can begin.

CLICK HERE to read Demilade's blog.

Kate outlines her journey from mainstream schooling to EOTAS (Education Other Than At School) and how she got her Scouts involved in the RADICAL research project. She rejects the old "never work with children" rule, showing that young people can lead workshops and design research, often with invaluable input. The Scouts revealed that while they feel respected in youth groups, they often feel disrespected on buses, in sports clubs, and other public spaces. Kate found the experience to be inspiring because it showed the Scouts that their voices deserve to be heard.

CLICK HERE to read Kate's blog.

In this piece, Rebecca highlights how young people are fighting for their right to speak Irish, but are still being treated like second-class citizens. Even though there's a demand for Irish language education, schools are left underfunded and totally packed, making it hard for kids to learn in the language they choose. Thousands of people have protested in the streets to demand equality, yet the government still hasn't met the need for more schools. If we don't support linguistic rights, are we really respecting young people's voices at all?

CLICK HERE to read Rebecca's blog.

Rosie admits that she started out thinking that research would be boring when she joined the RADICAL project through her Scout group, but she ended up having a blast! She realized that young people leading research is a game-changer because kids feel more comfortable opening up to someone their own age than a random adult (sorry!). While running "Dialogue Hubs," she chatted with other teens about where they feel respected or disrespected. The project helped boost her confidence and taught her that truly listening to others—even when you disagree—is very important.

CLICK HERE to read Rosie's blog.

This blog highlights why EOTAS (Education Other Than at School) is a lifesaver for kids who just don't click with mainstream schools. For young people like Dylan and Eoife, regular school was a place of bullying and belittlement, but EOTAS gave them teachers who respected them. These centres are a legal right and save money long term by helping vulnerable kids stay on track instead of falling into homelessness or crime. Despite how crucial they are, the Education Authority is cutting their funding, which is a massive blow to kids who need these safe spaces to finally be heard and valued.

CLICK HERE to read this blog.