The Verbatim Formula
Making listening Visible: Our method in a nutshell
The Verbatim Formula (TVF) offers care experienced young people (14-18 years old) an opportunity to visit university, and gives them a taste of student life and learning. It also creates a context where their voices and ideas can be heard. Since 2015, the TVF partnership has been inviting young people to Queen Mary University of London for a residential stay which includes drama workshops, spending a night in university accommodation, and planning for the future. We call our project The Verbatim Formula because it builds on practices used in verbatim theatre to explore young people’s experiences, feelings, and aspirations in a supportive, participatory context.
The initiative is a cross-sectoral project that works creatively with young people as co-researchers, and has worked with multiple partners from the public and third sector. Since its inception in 2015, as a collaboration with People’s Palace Projects, the project has been funded through QMUL Access funds, and has also received funding from commissions from Kensington and Chelsea and Wandsworth Local Authorities. In 2017 it gained a three-year grant from the Arts and Humanities Research Council.
TVF methodologies have become an effective tool for research and advocacy that enhance personal engagement amongst stakeholders and audiences and insert the voices of young people into services and policy-making forums.
For more info, visit: theverbatimformula.org.uk
