Beyond the Rainbow

Oral Histories of Teenagers and Young Adults in Scotland During the Covid-19 Pandemic

The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic represented unprecedented change in the lives of many. One group particularly affected incorporated teenagers and young adults. Periods of lockdown and restrictions on meeting in person fundamentally affected the lives and educational experiences of many in this group. This study, led by Dr Alison Chand, will involve undertaking oral history interviews to develop an understanding of how teenagers and young adults navigated the period from March 2020 to early 2022, including changes to their education and social lives and the effects of the period on their health. Collecting oral testimony from this group relating to their experiences of this important juncture in history and exploring this testimony in the context of British cultural and social history and the history of the emotions is particularly important at this time, as I hope to continue this research beyond this two-year study and trace the effects of the pandemic on this group over time.