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IARS is a youth-led non-profit organisation that relies on charitable funds and donations to continue its work. To donate and help our work and mission click on the button bellow and follow the simple instructions.

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About us

Independent Academic Research Studies (IARS) is a youth-led think-tank that was set up in 2001 to empower and give voice to young people to influence policy and practices that affect them and through their work to support their peers and youth organisations and groups in achieving community cohesion, fighting crime and promoting equality, human rights and restorative justice.

IARS' objects state that the charity "is set up to promote the development of young people as individuals and members of society by:

  • providing training guidance and support to enable those young people to undertake research, study or other activities to investigate the issues which affect them and;

  • encouraging young people to use the useful results of that research and learning to increase awareness and understanding of the issues which affect them amongst child and young people welfare professionals, service providers and the public" (IARS Memorandum of Association).

Without exception, all of IARS services are youth-led in the sense that they are designed, delivered and scrutinised by young people. The charity achieves its aims by:

  • providing youth led direct services to disadvantaged young people e.g. tailored human rights training and support programmes
  • acting as an independent consultancy
  • carrying out youth-led research to influence and inform policy and practices
  • informing strategic decision makers about issues affecting youth groups that are easily exposed to discrimination (e.g., Black and minority ethnic groups, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, the disabled and the mentally ill).

IARS also provides policy and research support and expertise to youth organisations working on human rights, equality, restorative justice and alternative dispute resolution. Our work is evidence-based and reflects the passions, concerns and interests of young people particularly those who are excluded. Our activities have a national and international significance, and we are particularly active in the Greater London area.

IARS was originally set up by a group of young volunteers to develop social science research capacity through support for researchers in the early stages of their careers. IARS runs two networks: one with young people, and one with organisations mainly from the voluntary and community sector. IARS aims to serve as a model whereby young people, particularly from disadvantage groups, come together to influence policies that affect their lives, and support Third Sector organisations that are concerned with issues that involve them (e.g. the knife and gang culture, inequality, education, unemployment, bullying and hate crime, sexual abuse, drugs and social exclusion). IARS is a a registered company limited by guarantee and a registered charity.




 
Copyright © 2008 Independent Academic Research Studies, Company No. 5348191 Charity No 1124590
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Last updated: 15-Aug-2008 08:20.