As a Youth and Community practitioner, I firmly believe participatory research underpins the core youth work principles and values as well as supporting the four cornerstones of youthwork, those being education, empowerment, equality and participation. This book, and the work of Kaz Stuart and Lucy Maynard, has opened up an accessible world for those who traditionally may not have seen a role for themselves and their communities within participatory research. It is an invaluable toolkit for practitioners, young people and communities to use. Kaz and Lucy guide you through the world of participatory practice, unpicking and explaining the academic language, offering a ‘real life’ grounded approach to research. The book provides a clear and accessible step-by-step journey for the reader. It uses examples about real people and communities who have developed and led research, generating a collaboration of stories that can be shared while recognising and acknowledging the value of the knowledge generated.

I really wish this book had been part of my researcher journey when I first entered the world of academia; it is an invaluable resource for everyone to use and is well placed to break down the barriers of accessibility to participatory research and, in turn, promote action for change.