Families urged to take part in unique study involving Sheffield and cities in China and Uganda

Researchers at the University of Sheffield are looking to interview young people, their parents and grandparents as part of a scheme to look at differences in consumer habits and environmental attitudes across generations.

It is part of Intersection, an international scheme taking place in cities in China and Uganda as well as Sheffield.

Kristina Diprose, UK research associate at the University of Sheffield, urged families to come forward and take part.

She added: “The legacy we leave to young and future generations is hotly debated in the UK, as we saw in the recent EU referendum and also through issues such as national debt, jobs, housing and climate change.

“Our research is exploring what intergenerational fairness means in people’s everyday lives, and across countries with very different family and social structures.”

The research team recently completed a survey of Sheffield residents, and hopes that family interviews will reveal the stories behind the statistics.

The team is also recruiting individuals to interview and would especially like to hear from more middle aged people, men and people from black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.

Dr Diprose added: “Intergenerational fairness affects all of us, now and in the future, and that’s why we want our research to reflect a wide range of views from people in Sheffield.

“The more individuals and families talk to us about this important issue, the better job we can do of representing these views to policy makers.”

There is also a creative side to the initiative and Intersection project leaders hosted a writing workshop at the weekend with acclaimed poet Helen Mort.

The ‘Write About Time’ event was held at the Theatre Delicatessen on The Moor on Sunday, which involved Sheffielders of all ages coming together to write about what they would save for the future.

In addition to the family writing workshop, about 30 people took part in a theatre workshop last year.

Along with theatre groups in cities in China and Uganda, those who took part in the Sheffield groups will star in a documentary, called Performing Sustainable Worlds.

It will premiere at the Showroom Cinema in Sheffield as part of the 13th annual Festival of Social Science in the autumn.

For more information about taking part in Intersection interviews, events and projects contact Dr Diprose by email at [email protected] or ring her on 07736 480924.