Navigating Space Under Lockdown: Experienced professional “Baby Boomers” & “Gen-X’s” are working for and alongside “Millennials” to promote their views and voices

“As we wind down to the end of this very much unprecedented year - while new “Tier 4” restrictions start for some & others remain under other tiers - I think it is true to say that most people are ready to say goodbye to 2020 & hope that 2021 will be much more positive!”

Coming into the Xmas break - Parise, Nikwhat, Mooed, Tyler, Simin, Sufiatu, Ayisatu, Serayna, Nasra, Nasar, Ella & Sajidah - our team of regional research partners, have almost completed their training and preparation to launch the nationwide Covid-19 BAME 18-35 surveys, as part of our Navigating Space Under Lockdown programme. 

They have been working closely alongside Barbara, Jordana and Daniel - the UCL DPU team, to develop and prepare the research framework.

From April 2021, UCL, Ubele & other partners will consider how these findings can contribute to changes on a national level. Operating ‘inter-generationally’ is key, with experienced professional “Baby Boomers” & “Gen-X’s” working for and alongside “Millennials” to promote their views and voices. This research piece is aimed at giving young adults more direct prominence in policy shaping and having a seat at the table where change-making conversations take place.  

FOAM20, our delivery partners, will also be working closely, but remotely, with the research team from January - March, to bring together stories from across the country. These will form a short film produced by Paul McKenzie. 

If you have an interesting COVID-19/Lockdown related story, particularly from the North East region of England, that could be included in our research and film - get in touch.

The online surveys will be sent out next February. They should take just a few minutes to complete. We are working on prizes and incentives for participants.

If you want more information about our surveys/findings or to take part in the programme please click here.

About the author

Suzgo Junior Mtonga 

Founder and director of 1Love Community CIC (2014-2019) & One Love Ubuntu Cooperative (2018-date). Previously (2012) co-founder of One Love Get Real, which hosted events based around ‘community conversations’.

Left a career in corporate banking (2009), to pursue a different path directly ‘helping people’. After becoming a professional gardener (2011), began to work closely on the ground in communities - which led to a move into social enterprise. 

Junior created and set up (2015) first major project “Nomadic Community Gardens”. Since then have set up further ‘meanwhile spaces’ & consulted on various others, mainly across East London. Currently working for The Ubele Initiative as the Navigating Space Under Lockdown Project Manager.