This new blog is about the work of Yulu Fang, an MSc candidate at the University of Edinburgh. The study explores how children and young people are viewed in Edinburgh’s public spaces. The blog is part of a series exploring MSc students’ findings, who worked with the support of Together, the Observatory of Children’s Human Rights in Scotland, Pilton Youth and Children’s Project (Edinburgh). 

Grounded in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the study examines adult perceptions of children (under 12) and young people (13–18) and how these views influence the design, regulation and governance of streets, parks and other shared spaces. 

Based on insights from adults working and living across the city, the study finds a clear age-based divide. Children are commonly seen as vulnerable and in need of protection, while young people are more often perceived as disruptive or threatening. These perceptions shape public space in practical ways: highly controlled and supervised environments for younger children, limited and restrictive provision for teenagers, and rules or practices that can lead to surveillance and exclusion. 

While participants generally supported involving children and young people in decisions about public space, meaningful participation was often limited by tokenistic consultation and adult-dominated decision-making. This highlights a gap between Scotland’s rights-based policy commitments and everyday practice, particularly for young people and those from less advantaged communities. 

The study calls for a shift in how communities understand childhood and adolescence by challenging stereotypes, investing in intergenerational engagement, and designing public spaces with children and young people rather than for them. 

Read the full blog Vulnerability or threat? Community perception of children and young people in Edinburgh’s public spaces