The Safer Young Lives Research Centre
The Safer Young Lives Research Centre specialises in:
- researching the sexual abuse of children and young people and harm;
- developing and delivering participatory practice in order to ensure research into sexual abuse is informed by and undertaken with young people, including those with lived experiences of the issues being explored;
- carrying out evaluations of services that work with children and young people who have been abused.
The Safer Young Lives Research Centre team of researchers have substantive experience in researching sexual abuse, including navigating the ethical challenges of this work, implementing participatory approaches and using innovative methodologies. We take a holistic approach to experiences of, and responses to, these kinds of harm. This enables us to understand the wider context within which abuse of children and young people happens.
Now directed by Professor Debra Allnock, the Safer Young Lives Research Centre builds on the pioneering work of its founding Director, Professor Jenny Pearce, and the leadership of Professor Helen Beckett until 2023.
Our vision and purpose
How we work
We are an applied research centre that is committed to:
The empowerment and protection of young people
Transparency and excellence in research
Being theoretically informed and practically relevant
Collaborative and partnership-based working
Young people’s safe and meaningful participation
Inclusive and anti-oppressive practice
Ethical and innovative ways of working
Our current strategic focus
From 2021 to 2025, our work streams are particularly focusing on understanding and addressing abuse in adolescence.
Our four current key work streams are:
EXAMINING
the nature and impact of sexual harm and abuse in adolescence, and responses to it.
BUILDING
a holistic and contextual account of extra-familial harm in adolescence.
DEMONSTRATING
leadership in the participation of young people and families in research into, and responses to, abuse in adolescence.
ADVANCING
the development of contextual responses to harm in adolescence.
These will be reviewed annually, to take account of emerging developments in the field.
Latest news
Webinar 26 November: Participation with Purpose
Join us for a 75-minute webinar to hear the latest news from the Safer Young Lives Research Centre.
The session will include:
- An introduction to our latest work undertaken with our Young Researcher’s Advisory Panel (YRAP) on applying the Lundy model
to participatory work on sexual abuse and exploitation - The launch of our ‘Our Voices’ website and ‘Learning Together’ resources - developed to support the participation of children and young people in research and initiatives to address sexual violence
- Opportunities to share your feedback, reflect on participatory practice in this field, and how our work can best support you and/or others
The webinar is taking place on Wednesday 26th November 2025 from 1-2.15pm (GMT)
Limited spaces available.
For any questions, please contact: claire.soares@beds.ac.uk
address
Safer Young Lives Research Centre
Institute of Applied Social Research
University of Bedfordshire
University Square
Luton
Bedfordshire
UK
LU1 3JU