Rachael Black

Rachael is a PhD candidate at Queen’s University Belfast, having completed her undergraduate degree in Environmental planning, followed by a masters in Urban and Rural Design. Undertaking her studies to date gave Rachael a deep interest in how children can be a part of co-designing interface areas in Belfast. This was further inspired by her long-time commitment volunteering in the local community sector.  Rachael volunteered in projects and specifically around engaging children about complex and challenging local spaces. Her research topic investigates how children from interface areas can have a platform to express their own analysis locally.  As well as providing tools to allow for development of their own design solutions. Her research project is part of the Northern Ireland and North East Doctoral Training Partnership (NINE DTP) funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, with support from the Department for the Economy Northern Ireland (DfENI).

The participation of children growing up in contested areas is key to unlock the full potential of spaces which exist behind ‘physical and mental barriers’. Visioning spaces through a younger lens would incorporate untainted perspectives on neighbourhood places. This research will explore the views of children who live in interface localities facing deprivation in Belfast. It will analyse children’s perception and usage of interface sites;  how they are currently consulted as part of planning and regeneration processes and how different consultation approaches could be utilised to harness the creative potential of the younger generation in the reimagining of interface communities.