Class solidarity as infrastructure for activism

Dr. Liz Ackerley talks about the importance of relationships and collaboration when nurturing activism.

Dr. Liz Ackerley talks about the importance of relationships and collaboration when nurturing activism. Dr. Ackerley shares the findings from her research around RECLAIM’s work to support young working class leaders, where interganerational care and solidarity acted as a form of infrastructure to support young people’s engagement.  

Liz Ackerley is a researcher at the University of Manchester where her work focuses on young people’s lives, intersecting inequalities and the impact of austerity on individuals and the public sector. In 2022 Liz completed a PhD entitled ‘Young people’s activism in times of austerity, carried out in partnership with the youth engagement Manchester-based organisation RECLAIM. She now works on the ‘Austerity and altered life-courses’ project, exploring how austerity impacts young people’s lives and futures particularly in relation to housing, employment and childbearing decisions.  

(Length: 2 minutes)

Reflective questions

Consider examples from your own organisation: 

  1. How might class solidarity look and feel when applied in your work? 
  2. How would you know that you are effectively sharing power in your work?

Professional Standards

PQS:KSS - Lead and govern excellent practice | Creating a context for excellent practice | Designing a system to support effective practice

CQC - Safe | Effective | Well-led

PCF - Contexts and organisations | Professional leadership

RCOT - Collaborative | Monitor resources

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