River of Hope: a child-led enquiry into place identity, inclusion and climate change through arts-based learning

Illustrating students’ perceptions towards the place and climate change
children exploring their local river
 
 
 
Title: River of Hope: a child-led enquiry into place identity, inclusion and climate change through arts-based learning
Funded by: Paul Hamlyn Foundation
Funding amount: £25,000
Location: Primary and secondary schools across England
Dates: 2023–2025
Project partners: Thames Valley Festival Trust
University of Plymouth PI/Co-I: Kathrin Paal and Dr Katherine Gulliver  
Kathrin Paal and Dr Katherine Gulliver are conducting a child- and teacher-led evaluation of the Thames Festival Trust’s River of Hope programme, an international, arts-based initiative that connects children and young people with their local river to provoke discussion around place and identity, inclusion and climate change. 
This place-based enquiry project works with primary and secondary school students across England. Students will make decisions on how to document their observations and potential changes in perceptions towards place and climate change. An adaptation of the Mosaic Approach will offer students opportunities to share their own perspectives from a strength-based view. Students will also decide how to disseminate their findings and artworks, and who would be their audience, culminating in an exhibition of the students' work. Methods include video diaries, guided tours, photography, personal journals and different art-based activities. 
This project will illustrate students' perceptions towards the place and climate change and will show how these can be explored through co-research. Results will provide guidance into the use of participatory methods for place-based learning about climate change with students.

Preparation: July–August 2023

Kathrin and Katherine developed a toolkit for the child- and teacher-led evaluation with a teacher's guidance and worksheets with activities to capture children's ideas, thoughts and feelings during the exploration of the local river, climate change, and the River of Hope arts programme. The toolkit also includes activities for children to reflect on being part of research and sharing their experiences as well as practicing consent through games. 

First phase: September–November 2023

The River of Hope programme has been rolled out in secondary schools around Leeds, England. The child- and teacher-led evaluation toolkit has been piloted in these schools.

Second phase: December 2023–June 2024

Katherine and Kathrin reflected on the pilot phase of the evaluation and revised the toolkit. The River of Hope programme has been rolled out in primary schools in Newham (London), Norfolk, Tees Valley and the wider Plymouth area. In the spring and summer term, schools will explore their local river and climate change through the arts-based activities. With the help of the toolkit, children will reflect on what they know and learned about the river, climate change and how they feel about the River of Hope programme.
For four Devon-based schools, Katherine and Kathrin will additionally observe children, teachers and the artists during the activities. The naturalistic (narrative) observation and children's data generation are underpinned by the principles of the Mosaic approach. This in-person aspect will help the researchers to further understand the use of the toolkit and contribute to the evaluation of the River of Hope programme through an appreciative inquiry.

"Normally in art we use artificial paints and stuff that has been made in factories, and here we got to make paint and dyes out of natural things" (Student, age 9–11)

"Art is more immersive, and is a good chance to get [the children] together" (Teacher in Artist workshop)

"It’s taught me how to do art another way" (Student, age 9–11)

"We are in a socio-economically disadvantaged area and pupils were in awe of working with real art and creating art – they thought it was something that sat on walls in galleries and was created by others" (Teacher)

Pictures from the project

Research staff