Author Archives: bccvav

Don’t Talk to me About Aspirations; The language of disadvantage.

This blog is based around a 2-year research project working with young men engaged with statutory or community provision during 2018 and 19 who accessed youth provision via the ‘Children and Young Peoples Partnership’ at Lancaster University.  “Don’t talk to me about aspirations, who says what I should or shouldn’t be lad, mi dad’s aContinue reading “Don’t Talk to me About Aspirations; The language of disadvantage.”

It’s a Job, It’s a Calling

I don’t think I’ve ever felt less comfortable in who I am than when I arrived at University on my first day. My parents drove me down, my ears still ringing with my Grandad’s pride and praise, pack of fags and a bottle hidden in my rucksack and cramming the last bits of the pre-courseContinue reading “It’s a Job, It’s a Calling”

It’s Class, mate

Ah. Class. The word that shalt not be spoken. Since I began working in the area of Widening Participation in 2005, my background has been described as “disadvantaged”, “economically disadvantaged”, “POLAR Quintile One”, “from a Low Participation Neighbourhood”, “a WP learner”, “a Pupil Premium student” but rarely “working class”. Strange, that. Growing up in StokeContinue reading “It’s Class, mate”