SENSE OF PLACE - MAPPING

Putting Children at the Centre of Place

SENSE OF PLACE - MAPPING

Putting Children at the Centre of Place

Sense of Place is a research-led mapping project that shines a light on how children and young people are helping to shape planning, architecture and placemaking across the UK.

Drawing on a select group of projects specifically relating to place from the winning Inspire Future Generations Awards entries, it celebrates where this work is happening and the creativity, commitment and impact behind it.

By bringing these projects together in one place, the map offers a growing picture of practice and the many ways young people are contributing to more inclusive, imaginative and meaningful places.

Interactive Sense of Place Map
Interactive Sense of Place Map

SENSE OF PLACE - INTERACTIVE MAP

This interactive map showcases how children and young people are actively shaping planning, architecture and placemaking across the UK. Drawing on a select group of projects specifically relating to place from the winning Inspire Future Generations Awards entries, it provides a growing, accessible picture of where engagement is happening and the diverse ways young people are contributing to the design of their communities.

Sense of Place is a research-led mapping project that builds a national picture of how children and young people are shaping planning, architecture and placemaking across the UK.

Despite increasing recognition of the value of this work, there is currently no shared, accessible overview of where activity is happening, who is leading it, and what approaches are proving most effective. This interactive map brings that activity into view.

Drawing on five years of the Inspire Future Generations Awards (2021–2025), the map presents winning and highly commended projects as a verified foundation of leading practice. These projects represent creative and impactful engagement across the UK. By visualising them geographically in the first instance, the map highlights where children and young people are actively involved in shaping places, revealing the breadth and diversity of activity nationwide. Future phases will introduce deeper thematic insights into approaches and outcomes.

The dataset will continue to expand to include IFGA finalists, capturing emerging practice and strengthening understanding across the sector.

More than a record, the map is a tool for action. It enables practitioners, local authorities and community partners to:

  • See who is engaging children and young people, and how

  • Understand the geographic spread of activity

  • Compare approaches and outcomes across different contexts

  • Identify opportunities for learning and collaboration

  • Strengthen the case for embedding participation in policy and practice

By combining spatial data with real-world case studies, Sense of Place positions children and young people as active citizens — with both the right and the capability to shape healthier, more inclusive and more sustainable places.

TET Global

  • Expanding Sense of Place worldwide to highlight how children and young people are shaping planning, architecture and placemaking across the world.

TET London

  • Focusing on London, Sense of Place will explore how participation and engagement methodologies vary across boroughs.