Youth involvement in urban regeneration: hard lessons, future directions

This article reviews the nature and effectiveness of youth involvement in u rban regeneration. Drawing on the findings of a substantial UK-wide study, it highlights the limited achievements of youth participation in urban rege neration thus far and the profound difficulties involved in promoting youth empowerment. However, it argues that there are important lessons to be lea rned about the future direction of youth participation in urban regeneratio n from the early 'pioneers' of involvement strategies. Moreover, it contend s that youth participation projects offer opportunities to promote local so cial cohesion, and that the experience derived from these initiatives can c ontribute to debates on young people and democratic renewal.