How ten girls from Chadderton used drones, digital mapping and hard evidence to put their ideas in front of the people who make decisions about their neighbourhood.
When young people are asked about their community, they’re usually handed a survey. We wanted to do something different. For Girls: Designing Our Space, we gave a group of girls the tools, skills and confidence to research their local area themselves, then present their findings to the people who can act on them.
The project ran at Nelson Way Community Centre in Chadderton South. It was delivered in partnership with Inclusive Bytes CIC and Ridge and Partners, with funding and support from First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO).
Mapping how our places feel
The girls began with GIS (Geographic Information System) mapping, the same kind of digital tool that planners and councils use. They used a simple colour-coded pin system to map their neighbourhood:
- 🔴 Red pins for places that felt unsafe, with notes on why
- 🟢 Green pins for places that felt safe
- 🟠 Amber pins for places where “it depends”
The amber pins turned out to be the most revealing. The same street or park can feel fine at 3pm and completely different after dark. It depends on the lighting, who else is around and the time of day. This kind of lived experience rarely reaches formal planning processes, and the project gave the girls a structured way to capture it and share it.
Drones, VR and a real role model
The second session opened with Freya from Ridge and Partners, a building surveyor and specialist drone operator. Before any of the technology came out, Freya told her own story: how she got into the built environment, what it’s like to be one of very few women in a male-dominated profession, and why she wants to change that.
Freya then showed how drones are a real tool of her trade, and colleagues from Vibe Immersive gave the girls hands-on time with drones, 360° scanners and VR headsets. It was as much a session about career possibilities as about the kit.
“I loved the drone session, I just wish we had more time.”
Young person, aged 12
From opinion to evidence
What made this project stand out was that the girls were asked to back up what they said. If an area felt too dark, how could they measure the light levels? If somewhere felt dangerous, what did the crime statistics say?
They also learned about Broken Window Theory, the idea that visible signs of neglect tell people a space isn’t cared for, and that this can lead to further decline and make people feel less safe. The girls found examples in their own area, such as tired signage and neglected notice boards, and explained what those details say to the people who use the space.
“I never realised it was trees that could make me feel unsafe. Simple things like keeping them cut back can help improve the park and make it feel safer.”
Young person, aged 11
Ideas for change
Finally, the girls added “change” pins to their maps, each with a specific proposal. They presented these to officers from First Choice Homes Oldham and Oldham Council, and to their parents. Their recommendations included:
- A dedicated dog park
- Better seating near the bowling green
- More lighting throughout the park
- CCTV coverage
- New notice boards and signage to tackle visible signs of neglect
- An interactive digital map for the park, linking to community challenges, games, local history talks and videos
That last idea is a good example of how young people think differently about public space. It’s the kind of fresh thinking that consultations often miss.
“I never thought I could stand up and present in front of important people.”
Young person, aged 15
Stronger together
No single partner could have delivered this project alone:
- Fullcircle led the project and brought more than ten years of youth work experience in Oldham, creating a safe and supportive space where the girls could take part with confidence.
- Inclusive Bytes brought specialist digital and STEM expertise, with a focus on learning by doing.
- First Choice Homes Oldham funded the project and had a real stake in the outcome. Their officers heard the girls’ proposals first-hand, which gave the girls’ ideas a direct route to an organisation that can act on them.
- Ridge and Partners took part as part of their social value commitment to FCHO. They donated Freya’s time, an in-kind contribution worth £2,193.75, and showed how professional firms can make a real difference in the communities their clients serve.
What we learned
As with any pilot, we’re taking plenty of lessons forward. Sessions were packed, so a longer programme with recaps and refreshers would give the girls more time to take everything in. We’ll keep investing in outreach through trusted referral routes so we reach the girls who would benefit most. We’ll also build in a more structured before-and-after evaluation to capture changes in confidence, civic awareness and interest in careers.
What happens next
The girls’ proposals will be formally shared with Oldham Council and the Pride in Place Neighbourhood Board, so their ideas reach the right conversations and the girls hear what comes of them.
We see Girls: Designing Our Space as the foundation for a longer-term Girls’ Youth Voice and Place-Making programme. It’s a model that shows housing associations, councils and young people can design better places together.
A huge thank you to the girls who took part, and to Inclusive Bytes, Ridge and Partners, Vibe Immersive and First Choice Homes Oldham for making it possible.
You can download the full evaluation here.
Want to get involved or partner with us on future projects? Email info@fullcirclenwcic.co.uk.