Uploaded February 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Why riot? Community, choices, aspirations is a free resource for young people to help them think critically about the choices they make and about how to act positively for change, around the issues they care about. This short course was made in the aftermath of violent street disturbances in working-class areas of Northern Ireland in the spring of 2021. It was developed with boys (aged 14–16 years) from the Shankill in Belfast, a Loyalist community and one of the areas where these disturbances took place and is for all young people, but especially those growing up in contested societies, and anyone interested in these issues. Course content includes understanding what community means to you; exploring different perspectives; questioning and evaluating information and influences, including on social media; decision-making; finding your voice and becoming positive changemakers.
About this course and how it was made:
This short course was made with eight teenage boys taking part in an ACT Initiative and Belfast Boys’ Model School project: Adam, Ashton, Brandon, Dylan, Matty, Ryan, Stephen and William. It is based on a face-to-face course and workshops developed by William Mitchell, a Loyalist ex-prisoner and former Open University student from the Action for Community Transformation Initiative (ACT), based in the Shankill.
Why riot? is a collaboration between The Open University in Ireland’s Time to Think initiative and the ACT Initiative.
Transcript link - media-podcast.open.ac.uk/feeds/3998_youtubeuploadsfriday/20230127T113849_Why_Riot-Transcript.pdf
Study the free course Why riot? Community, choices, aspirations at the Open University
https://www.open.edu/openlearn/education-development/why-riot-community-choices-aspirations/content-section-overview?active-tab=description-tab
Study R23 BA (Honours) Social Sciences at The Open University
open.ac.uk/courses/social-sciences/degrees/ba-social-sciences-r23
The Open University is the world’s leading provider of flexible, high-quality online degrees and distance learning, serving students across the globe with highly respected degree qualifications, and the triple-accredited MBA. The OU teaches through its own unique method of distance learning, called ‘supported open learning’ and you do not need any formal qualifications to study with us, just commitment and a desire to find out what you are capable of.
Free learning from The Open University
http://www.open.edu/openlearn/
For more like this subscribe to the Open University channel
youtube.com/channel/UCXsH4hSV_kEdAOsupMMm4Qw
Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/ouopenlearn
Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/OUFreeLearning
#OpenUniversity #Shankillcommunity
Why riot? Community, choices, aspirations is a free resource for young people to help them think critically about the choices they make and about how to act positively for change, around the issues they care about. This short course was made in the aftermath of violent street disturbances in working-class areas of Northern Ireland in the spring of 2021. It was developed with boys (aged 14–16 years) from the Shankill in Belfast, a Loyalist community and one of the areas where these disturbances took place and is for all young people, but especially those growing up in contested societies, and anyone interested in these issues. Course content includes understanding what community means to you; exploring different perspectives; questioning and evaluating information and influences, including on social media; decision-making; finding your voice and becoming positive changemakers.
About this course and how it was made:
This short course was made with eight teenage boys taking part in an ACT Initiative and Belfast Boys’ Model School project: Adam, Ashton, Brandon, Dylan, Matty, Ryan, Stephen and William. It is based on a face-to-face course and workshops developed by William Mitchell, a Loyalist ex-prisoner and former Open University student from the Action for Community Transformation Initiative (ACT), based in the Shankill.
Why riot? is a collaboration between The Open University in Ireland’s Time to Think initiative and the ACT Initiative.
Transcript link - media-podcast.open.ac.uk/feeds/3998_youtubeuploadsfriday/20230127T113849_Why_Riot-Transcript.pdf
Study the free course Why riot? Community, choices, aspirations at the Open University
https://www.open.edu/openlearn/education-development/why-riot-community-choices-aspirations/content-section-overview?active-tab=description-tab
Study R23 BA (Honours) Social Sciences at The Open University
open.ac.uk/courses/social-sciences/degrees/ba-social-sciences-r23
The Open University is the world’s leading provider of flexible, high-quality online degrees and distance learning, serving students across the globe with highly respected degree qualifications, and the triple-accredited MBA. The OU teaches through its own unique method of distance learning, called ‘supported open learning’ and you do not need any formal qualifications to study with us, just commitment and a desire to find out what you are capable of.
Free learning from The Open University
http://www.open.edu/openlearn/
For more like this subscribe to the Open University channel
youtube.com/channel/UCXsH4hSV_kEdAOsupMMm4Qw
Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/ouopenlearn
Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/OUFreeLearning
#OpenUniversity #Shankillcommunity
