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How can we explore what are the barriers and facilitators to opportunities for play, social interaction, physical activity and healthy eating for children through neighbourhood walkabout and photovoice?
On July 19th 2018 a community walkabout and photovoice event was held on the topic ‘Young Somali children growing up happy, healthy and safe: what gets ‘in the way’ and what helps’. There was a great response from the community at this event. The researchers, together with Zakiya McKenzie, former Green and Black Ambassador, curated an exhibition from the photos that were taken at the Walkabout, which opened on Tuesday, 23 October at the Wellspring Healthy Living Centre.
The researchers invited local community members and interested stakeholders from statutory, voluntary and academic sectors to promote dialogue on this aspect of neighbourhood environment and health, and to discuss walkabout and photovoice as a way to engage with BAME and disadvantaged communities.
What did the project involve?
The overall aim of the project was to explore what are the barriers and facilitators to opportunities for play, social interaction, physical activity and healthy eating for children (Somali children for this study) through neighbourhood walkabout and photovoice. Instead of surveys/interviews, the researchers wanted to use a participatory approach to their research. And so, they were interested in testing out a ‘walkabout and photovoice’ methodology, questioning if it is feasible and acceptable, especially to BAME communities.
Who are the team and what do they bring?
- Tom Allport (Bristol Medical School) is a researcher and paediatrician who works on understanding ways to improve children and young people’s development and participation despite the challenges of disabling situations.
- Vanessa Er (Bristol Medical School) is a researcher focused on public health with an interest in applying visual methods in engaging community on the relationship of built and social environment with health.
What were the results?
The photo exhibition was a way to promote dialogue between local residents, participants of the walkabout, practitioners and policymakers. There was a short presentation from a few participants about their experience of the walkabout and photovoice. At the event the researchers collected data from the attendees about what they thought of the photo exhibition. This fed into the development of a full grant application.
