The Grenfell fire broke out in a 24-storey residential building in North Kensington in 2014, killing 72 people and injuring many others. It spread rapidly due to the flammable exterior cladding and was one of the most tragic events in recent British history.
Investigations revealed significant failures in social housing policy, fire safety regulations and building materials, with the government and cladding manufacturers bearing substantial responsibility for creating and perpetuating these social injustices. Survivors were also treated unfairly in the aftermath and forced to live in poor temporary housing for years.
Research, led by Dr Wonyong Park, from Southampton Education School, considers how disaster justice education could be integrated with community-engaged participatory research to foster collaborative learning and identify education priorities within the Grenfell Tower fire community in London.
Involving the local community
The team worked with the Grenfell community and the University of Oxford’s Department of Education. They interviewed community members, teachers in North Kensington and Grenfell activists, and collected existing lessons and educational initiatives about Grenfell from across the UK.
Four Grenfell Education Meetings were held with survivors, the bereaved, teachers, young adults and children from the Grenfell community to reimagine education for social justice.
The impact
The project findings highlight the critical importance of education in shaping the national memory of disasters and addressing injustices in British society.
It also shows that participatory research with disaster-affected communities can produce relevant and culturally sensitive research that identifies local needs and priorities that lead to effective educational interventions and changes towards equity and justice.
Among the recommendations is providing support for teachers. The team is developing a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) to help teachers educate about disasters such as Grenfell in an effective, respectful and sensitive way.
Visions and recommendations from the community will provide insights into how community narratives of disaster can inform classroom practice and, in turn, nurture younger generations with a critical awareness of social justice issues.
A young Grenfell survivor said: “The meeting was very helpful and comforting, as we were heard and able to express our thoughts, views and feelings on this sensitive topic. I am extremely grateful to work alongside the team and looking forward to continuing to work together and making further change.”
Education has a crucial role to play in disaster recovery and in creating a just society. Our work seeks to influence how Britain and the world will remember Grenfell in the future.
