ORBIT-OnlineRepository ofBirkbeckInstitutionalTheses Enabling Open Access to Birkbeck’s Research Degree output Young people’s transitions to adulthood in Pilton, a disadvantaged neighbourhood of Edinburgh https://eprints.bbk.ac.uk/id/eprint/40251/ Version: Full Version Citation: Carlin, Eric Joseph Francis (2017) Young people’s transitions to adulthood in Pilton, a disadvantaged neighbourhood of Edinburgh. [Thesis] (Unpublished) c 2020 The Author(s) All material available through ORBIT is protected by intellectual property law, including copy- right law. Any use made of the contents should comply with the relevant law. Deposit Guide Contact: email Young people’s transitions to adulthood in Pilton, a disadvantaged neighbourhood in Edinburgh Eric Joseph Francis Carlin Birkbeck, University of London PhD Youth Studies Page 1 of 401 Declaration I declare that this thesis is of my own composition, based on my own work, with acknowledgements of other sources, and has not been submitted for any other degree or professional qualification. Eric Joseph Francis Carlin Date: 1st May, 2017 Page 2 of 401 Abstract This thesis explores young people’s experiences of transition into adulthood in Pilton, a disadvantaged neighbourhood in North Edinburgh, and considers how their social networks influence their perspectives and actions. The stories are told of young people, aged 16–23, including the challenges they face, the richness and diversity of their experiences. Their transition experiences involve families, friends, leisure spaces and engagement with the labour market. The study is located within Elias’ theoretical framework and highlights that strong social networks often flourish more strongly in contexts like this than in more affluent neighbourhoods. The research questions are: 1. How do young people in Pilton experience and manage transitions to adulthood? 2. How do disadvantage, stigma and violence affect the daily lives and transition journeys of young people in Pilton? 3. How useful is the concept of social exclusion to describe young people’s experiences in Pilton? 4. How helpful is the concept of resilience to support young people in Pilton? Main data sources have been fieldwork, carried out between June 2012 and May 2013, mainly in Pilton Youth and Children’s Project (PYCP). Desk-based and on-line research, including reviewing historical and contemporary documentation was undertaken to understand the context and to interrogate issues that arose – for example, to understand how embedded poverty and stigma has been throughout the history of Pilton. Page 3 of 401 The study includes consideration of the usefulness of the concepts of social inclusion/exclusion and resilience, both prolific in contemporary discussions about marginalised young people and what ‘to do’ about them. The case is made for reframing the two concepts, returning them to their original intentions, and placing more emphasis on reducing inequalities. The challenges caused to young people by disadvantage, stigma and violence are significant. It is emphasised that these are faced within an unequal society, not as ‘socially excluded’. Page 4 of 401 Acknowledgements Thank you to all the people who have supported me in undertaking this research. I hope that, by telling the stories of young people in Pilton, the richness and diversity of their social experiences will be appreciated and the disadvantage that many experience will be challenged. More than anything, I want to thank the young people whom I observed and interviewed for their openness, honesty and generosity. It has truly been a life-affirming experience meeting you all. I also wish to note my appreciation of the youth workers and other adults who shared their perspectives with me. The research would not have been possible without the massive help given to me by the management and staff at PYCP, where most of the fieldwork was carried out. I have enjoyed getting to know you. I hope that your trust in me is justified by the final thesis. I am grateful to my supervisors, Paul Watt, Linda Milbourne and William Ackah, who have provided excellent support and guidance throughout the research process. I also wish to thank to the numerous other academics and friends who have offered advice, suggestions and encouragement. You know who you are. Finally, thank you to my wonderful husband, Paulo Nunes de Moura. Page 5 of 401 Contents Chapter Page One Introduction 10 Two Understanding young people’s experiences 23 – research discussion Three Pilton, past and present 68 Four Methodology and methods 103 Five Local social networks 138 Six Becoming adult 161 Seven Labour market transitions 170 Eight Leisure life transitions 202 Nine Stigma 242 Ten Feeling and being safe 267 Eleven Resilience 296 Twelve Conclusions and recommendations 321 Page 6 of 401 Figure Page 2.1 Forms of Labour Security under Industrial Citizenship 41 (Standing, 2011) 3.1 Google map of West Pilton 70 3.2 Google map of West Pilton and Edinburgh 70 3.3 Google Map of West Pilton, with PYCP 72 3.4 Google map: distance between Pilton and Edinburgh 73 tourist attractions 3.5 Maps, Edinburgh and Pilton Census areas, 2001 and 2011 88 3.6 Map of Pilton Ward, pre-2007 99 3.7 Map of Forth Ward, post-2007 99 4.1 Understanding between Construction and Interpretation 130 (Flick, 2006) 4.2 Young people’s personal characteristics 132 4.3 Data analysis themes 133 4.4 Youth transitions data 134 4.5 Data coded from fieldwork 134 4.6 Data analysis plan, January 2013 135 8.1 Pilton Park 204 8.2 Pilton Gala Day, 2012 204 8.3 The beach/shore near Pilton 205 8.4 The view of the Forth bridges 205 8.5 Front view of PYCP 211 8.6 Back view of PYCP 211 8.7 Cooking together at PYCP 212 8.8 PYCP Halloween party 212 8.9 Playing pool at PYCP 212 8.10 Playing with the X-Box at PYCP 213 8.11 PYCP floor-plan 215 11.1 GIRFEC – ‘Getting it Right for Every Child’ (Scottish 298 Government, 2015b) 11.2 GIRFEC ‘Resilience’ model (Scottish Government, 2012) 299 11.3 The ‘egocentric view of society’ (Elias, 1978) 300 11.4 A figuration of interdependent individuals’ (Elias, 1978) 300 11.5 Resilience matrix (Scottish Government, 2012) 302 Page 7 of 401 Table Page 2.1 ‘Pathways to poverty’ and ‘Core protective factors’ 50 3.1 Pilton ethnicity 2001 and 2011 89 3.2 Ages of people in Pilton, 2011 90 3.3 Household sizes in Pilton, 2011 90 3.4 Lone parent households in Pilton, 2011 90 3.5 Self-reported health assessment in Pilton, 2011 91 3.6 Hospital admissions for alcohol and drug misuse, 2007 92 3.7 Housing tenure in Pilton, 2011 93 3.8 Unemployment in Pilton, Edinburgh and Scotland, 2001 93 and 2011 3.9 Employment categories in Pilton, Edinburgh and 94 Scotland, 2011 3.10 Gender breakdown of occupations in Pilton, 2011 95 3.11 Schools attended by young people 95 3.12 Free school meals, 2012-13 96 3.13 % absences from school, years S1-S5 in 2012-13 96 3.14 School ‘staying-on’ rates, 2012-13 97 3.15 % of S4 year group receiving 5 or more awards at SCQF 97 Level 3 in 2012-13 3.16 % School leaver destinations, 2012-13 98 4.1 The young people who took part in this study 107 4.2 Summary: the interviews 127 7.1 Young people and work in Pilton 187 7.2 The ‘Planners’ 188 7.3 The ‘Searchers’ 193 7.4 The ‘Drifters’ 197 11.1 Young people’s experiences of ‘significant threat’ 308 and/or ‘serious adversity’ Page 8 of 401 Appendix Page One Staff interview schedule 341 Two Youth interview schedule 342 Three Recruitment flyer 343 Four Parents group guide 344 Five Flyers/posters during observation 345 Six Staff information and consent form 346 Seven Youth information and consent form 348 Eight Glossary of terms 350 Page Bibliography 352 Page 9 of 401 Chapter One: Introduction Purpose of this study This study explores young people’s experiences of transition into adulthood in Pilton, a disadvantaged neighbourhood in North Edinburgh, and considers how their social networks influence their perspectives and actions. As in other studies that have considered similar themes (MacDonald, 2009; MacDonald and Marsh, 2005, 2002; Shildrick et al., 2009; Shildrick and MacDonald, 2007), the research is premised on an assumption that, although many young people in poor neighbourhoods experience similar material disadvantages, their subjective experiences and responses vary. By telling the stories of young people, aged 16 – 23, I have intended to recognise, alongside the challenges they face, the richness and diversity of their experiences, including their changing relationships with families and friends, and their new terms of engagement with labour market and consumerist contexts. The study is located within Elias’ (1978) theoretical framework, which stresses that the individual forms part of the environment, his/her family and his/her society; thus, there is exploration of the dynamic networks in which people engage and the figurations that they form. Themes, such as common experiences of stigma and violence may be compared with other studies but comparisons with studies such as Wacquant’s work (2008) in the USA and France that discuss the impact of feeling marginalised on young people’s behaviours are tempered by an awareness that there are many differences between different social contexts and that individuals are different. The thesis will highlight that strong social networks can flourish more strongly in contexts like this than in more affluent neighbourhoods (Lupton, 2003; MacDonald and Marsh, 2005). Elias and Scotson (1994) emphasise that the power imbalances in society and their manipulation by different groups are crucial factors in Page 10 of 401 understanding human figurations. Following this, the impetus for the critical sociologist who wishes to make an impact is to ensure that one’s recommendations are delivered in an appropriate format and at the right time to those who have power.