Revealing the freedom of movement of youngsters in residential youth care: towards the creation of a socio-spatial citizenship climate

Recent research shows the relevance of a socio-spatial citizenship climate in residential youth care to shift the focus from youngsters as objects of care due to their challenging behaviour to youngsters as citizens in their own right who give meaning to the various circumstances in their everyday lives. A socio-spatial citizenship climate acknowledges the synergy between residential youth care and the wider living environment, as residential youth care is embedded in a wider living environment in which youngsters practise and experience their freedom of movement by navigating socially and physically through different socio-spatial relationships, circumstances and pedagogical milieus. Based on a qualitative study in a residential youth care facility in Flanders (the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium), we explore how residential youth care can create circumstances for youngsters to realise their freedom of movement as part of the development of a socio-spatial citizenship climate. This article discusses three key findings: (1) creating local coalitions and partnerships, (2) creating circumstances for spatial appropriation, and (3) creating space for complexity and convivial encounters. The findings show that creating circumstances for a socio-spatial citizenship climate requires a critical and reflexive social and pedagogical professional discretion and orientation on different levels of the organisation.