We have partnered with the Youth Empawerment Service (YES) at Newham Council to deliver the pilot engagement project East London Heroes, adapting the Ethnoacting in VR for Growth Mindset intervention for young people in Newham. The project includes:
- Ethnoacting in VR Workshop: A 3-hour session where 25 youth participants will immerse themselves in a public speaking scenario and reproduce testimonies from overachievers who have demonstrated resilience and a growth mindset.
- Focus Group Discussions: Participants will evaluate the accessibility and relatability of the intervention and co-design its next iteration. They will identify eight inspirational figures from their communities to interview for future development, integrating these real-life stories into the VR experience to enhance cultural relevance and emotional impact.
- Surveys and Analysis: Pre- and post-intervention surveys using Carol Dweck’s Growth Mindset Assessment Tool, alongside qualitative analysis of focus group outcomes.
Young people aged 14–21 from Newham, particularly those engaged through local community organisations such as The Youth Empowerment Zone at The Source and YouPress.org. The project specifically aims to reach underrepresented and disadvantaged youth, fostering wellbeing, resilience, and self-development.
Timeline:
April 2025: Planning and coordination with partners (The Source, YES, YouPress.org); DMP sent for approval
May 2025: Ethical approval and participant recruitment
June 2025: Workshop delivery, including VR sessions, focus groups, and identification of local role models
July 2025: Data analysis (quantitative and qualitative) and refinement of intervention materials
August 2025: Article preparation for submission to VR Frontiers
September 2025: Funding bid submission for a larger-scale study
The workshop will be delivered at The Source in Stratford Square, Newham, in June 2025.
Researchers Involved:
Dr. Evi Stamatiou – Principal Investigator (MWP, ACI)
Prof. Volker Thoma – Cognitive Psychology Researcher and Data Analyst (School of Childhood and Social Care)
Oluwatosin Sanni (PhD Student) – Experimental VR Development and Support (Media, ACI)
Pathways to Impact:
1. Enhancing mental health and resilience in young people through innovative VR and drama-based methods
2. Supporting community co-production and amplifying youth voices in public health initiatives
3. Demonstrating scalable, evidence-based interventions that promote educational attainment and employability among marginalised youth
Strategic Alignment: The pilot supports national and local strategic priorities, including Newham Council’s Health and Wellbeing Strategy and the National Youth Agency’s Digital Youth Work Network.
Dissemination: Findings from the pilot will be published in a VR-focused journal, such as VR Frontiers.