Grown up in Britain
We are working to chronicle 100 years of youth culture through YOUR stories and photographs.
We believe that everyone has an important story to tell about what it means to be young. Whether you are 17 or 70, whether you were a rocker or a raver or are just entering your youth today, we want to know ‘What is it like growing up in Britain?’ Then, now and in the future.
From first jobs, to first loves, Saturday hangouts and family holidays, our Grown up in Britain campaign invites to public to help us build the Museum of Youth Culture. Since launching in 2019, we’ve received thousands of photographs, objects and memories documenting everyday stories of being young.
Through scanning social events and an online submissions campaign, we are building a collective memory of youth culture.
Find out more about why we think it's important to celebrate youth culture history below.
Why Grown up in Britain?
Grown up in Britain gives the mic back to the people and empowers them to share their stories. We don’t look to dictate how people interpret their experiences of youth and encourage stories that capture different elements of being young. Inviting the public to dig out their family albums and shoebox archives, the resulting collection spans a wide range of media including photographs, home footage, ephemera such as flyers and ticket stubs, teenage clothes such as band t-shirts, other objects and oral histories.
Whilst we have all been young once, how do we perceive the generations of young people that come after us? Much of our discourse around teenagers and young people has been shaped by media representations and as a result, according to a 2011 study by the Intergenerational Foundation, British people have the most negative perception of their youth compared to other European nations. We have a responsibility to challenge the stereotypes associated with the way young people have expressed themselves. By enabling people across generations to share their stories of teenage life, we hope to break down misconceptions and build bridges. It also poses questions on whose stories are valued and why.
At the heart of our Grown up in Britain campaign is the idea that everyone has an important story to tell about being young. We aim to represent the history of Britain through a youth lens, told by people who were there and how they experienced the times. It's about celebrating the achievements of young people, whilst also advocating for a more open approach to history. We believe that people should have a voice in their own history.
Submit Your Story
Handy Resources
Not sure where to start? We have a selection of activities and resources to get you talking youth culture, as well as tips on how to scan photographs and record oral histories!
Its time to get out your family albums and shoebox archives, and start sharing your memories of growing up.
This Grown up in Britain pack gives you the tools to start digging through your photos. The pack includes handy tips, discussions prompts, fun activities to get you going and advice on how to digitise your photos.
Please share and submit your stories with the Museum of Youth Culture!
We've developed an oral history learning resource for KS3 and KS4.
Our Youth Culture and Social History activity gives teenagers the tools to interview family members about their experiences of being young, with a focus on cultural and technological changes in line with the national curriculum.
It can feel quite daunting to photograph your youth culture photos and objects, but with the smartphone in your pocket and a few simple steps its easy to get a great quality digital copy.
This simple guide takes you through the steps of how to photograph your things.