We are looking to bring together a series of cutting-edge articles that celebrate the distinctive contribution of those researching and working with marginalised young people. We hope to explore the diverse lives (and challenges) faced by young people and emergent and contemporary practice responses. We would like as many members of our academic and practice community to contribute to this Special Edition.

 The timescales are as follows:

  • Abstract Submission by Friday 12th December 2025 here
  • Feedback from the Abstract/ EOIs by 23rd January 2026
  • Final papers are due no later than 30 September 2026 for peer review

This Special Issue aims to critically interrogate the forces that produce and sustain marginalisation, foregrounding the lived experiences of young people whose voices are too often ignored or dismissed. We will focus on the intersectional realities of marginalised youth and examine how overlapping inequalities such as poverty, race, gender, disability, geographical disadvantage, and systemic injustice have compounded disadvantages and restricted life chances, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We think many academics, policy makers, students, and practitioners will recognise the challenge facing today’s young people, particularly those for whom their education journey was impacted by lockdown. This Special Issue seeks to explore the impact of this, and other factors, in the hope that we can find positive messages which show young people thriving once more.

 Contributions are invited that cover (but are not limited to) one or more of the following themes:

  • Cultural difference, gender, race, class;
  • The ‘Lost Generation’;
  • Young carers and care leavers;
  • Contemporary social issues, e.g., homelessness;
  • Marginalised/disaffected young people and social movements, e.g., Black Lives Matter;
  • Far right movements, protest, and populism;
  • Young people in conflict zones;
  • Mental health and wellbeing;
  • Social media and digital cultures;
  • Autism and neurodivergence/neurotypicality;
  • LGBTQ+;
  • Disability;
  • Transgender experiences;
  • Gender and identity;
  • Creative and contemporary practices that support young people.

author / authors who are accepted for publication in the Special Edition will have their publishing fees waived

 If you have any questions or would like to discuss your contribution further, please do not hesitate to contact any of the guest editors, they are:

Dr Jean Harris-Evans email –  Jean.Harris-Evans@shu.ac.uk

Professor Alan Smith email –  a.s.smith@leedsbeckett.ac.uk

Christine Smith email –  Christine.smith@hull.ac.uk