Thematic Analysis of Qualitative Data

This report presents a thematic analysis of qualitative data on young people and rough sleeping in London. It explores the challenges faced by rough sleepers, including their childhood experiences, temporary accommodations, life on the streets, and the impact on their health. The analysis provides insights into the factors contributing to rough sleeping and offers recommendations for addressing this issue.

THEMATIC ANALYSIS OF
QUALITATIVE DATA

TABLE OF CONTENTS
TOPIC..............................................................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
RESULTS........................................................................................................................................1
DISCUSSION..................................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

TOPIC
Young People and Rough Sleeping in London
INTRODUCTION
Rough sleepers are those sleepers who sleep or are bedded down in open air such as: streets,
bus shelters etc. There are more than 15 percent people who sleep rough in UK. In fact, this
figure is continuously increasing (Mackie, Johnsen and Wood, 2018). Rough sleepers tend to
find place where they can sleep such as empty offices, building etc. These people who sleep
rough tend to move towards smoking, drugs, weed etc. This this report analysis of two transcript
will be done in which interview of two rough sleepers have been taken. In result sections themes
will be made based on both the transcript in order to be analysed and then based on the themes of
result section discussion will be done. In this thematic analysis of two transcript will be dome.
One transcript is of a 24 years old girl named Gemma. Person about whom the second transcript
is unknown but is named as L.
RESULTS
Childhood Experience and family history
It has been observed that not all people are born rough sleepers. One of the main reasons
because of which people run towards rough sleeping lifestyle or hardship is their family history
or childhood experience (Mackie, Johnsen and Wood, 2017). Many times, people do not have a
fruitful childhood experience because of disturbance in the family. Many times, due to certain
things or changes within family members or issues, childhood experience of children get
disturbed. This research explains how family experience of people changes or effect then both
internally and externally such as:
As said by Gemma- her father was not a very nice person, in fact he used to hit her
mother. Once because of this police was also called and according to her they also found drugs
within their flat because of which she was send to care homes.
According to L when her mother’s partner moved in with them and when they had a
baby, he used because quite strict and did not want her to live with them.
These childhood experiences and family issues affects a child both internally and
externally. Many times, due to these issues it becomes difficult for children to live peacefully at
their homes and some way or the other they leave home.
Experience after leaving home and temporary accommodation
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Hostel experience: Hostel setting or living in a hostel is not easy, children faces various
kinds of problems (Mackie, Johnsen and Wood, 2019). Many times, atmosphere of the hostel
becomes a primary reason because of which children or young people move towards bad
influence habits that can become one of the main reasons because of which they can be forced to
leave the place. It becomes difficult for young people to live independently as hostels are
temporary solution of their accommodations. Hostel norms are quite strict and these norms are
broken ten result or consequences of it cannot be good.
As explained by L: She used to smoke weed a lot which was against hostel norms and as
a result she was thrown out of the hostel.
Children’s home: Many times, of children are way too small to take care of themselves they are
either send to foster homes of children’s home. It is important for children living in children’s
home not to trust anyone easily as it can result in some serious consequences. Which can change
their life.
From the interview conducted with Gemma she explained that she ran away with a man
who seems quite wealthy but when she got pregnant, he forced her to work on streets.
Life after hostels
it is quite good when we have a protective place to live in but once that place is left it
becomes quite difficult to live (Watts, Fitzpatrick and Johnsen, 2018). Participates explains who
their life changed when they left their hostels and family house. In order to escape from the
frustration, they committed other crimes which either led them towards rough sleeping or
towards young offender’s place. Such places are not very nice and create loads of difficulties for
young people. According to one of the participant life in hostel was not easy but it wasn’t
difficult even. But after leaving the hostel life would take turn and difficulties would increase. As
illustrated by one of the participants:
According to L when she was send to young offenders place, that place was not very nice
and good or bad completely depended upon who was on duty.
Rough sleeping in London and hardship faced by rough sleepers
Participants who were rough sleepers explained their experiences and hardship faced by
them. They reported the way in which they moved towards rough sleeping and what they
experience as rough sleepers. Both the participants explained one same thing i.e. they were
explained that they can get a place to live in in London but things did not as think and they ended
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up sleeping on street. However rough sleeping is not easy though one of the participants
explained how people used drugs in order to escape from rough sleeping (Mackie, Johnsen and
Wood, 2018). Not only this, both the respondents explained one common thing about rough
sleeping i.e. one cannot stay at a single place for more then few nights as they can get caught and
are required to leave the place.
According to L staying at a place for more than few nights, changes of getting caught
increases. She also explains that people used to smoke weed at the night in order to pass the time
so that they can pass another day smoothly in a much better manner.
Another participant named Gemmy explained that many people used to hallucinate
because of drugs, they used to burn their own sleeping bags because of hallucinations.
Relationship with other rough sleepers and typical rough sleepers life
Respondents also explains that most of the time in order to live a life of rough sleepers it is
important to live with same group of people. As some of the people helps in making one
understand the manner in which one can live a prolife at streets or they know where they can
food from (Mackie, Johnsen and Wood, 2017). Some of them helped oneself to feel safe even
though one need to remain conscious of the surrounding even from the people they already
known.
According to L she used to spend time with some same group of people as they knew
where they can get food from, where they can shoplift, where they can beg etc.
As illustrated by Gemma we cannot even trust people we stay with as they can even leave
you by the morning.
Life of a rough sleeper was quite difficult and was not easy to live. According to one of
the participants every day one has to get enough money to survive and every day one had to start
all over again. One of the participants also explains that it is much difficult to live on street as
expected and they would give anything to be indoors. They even sometimes used to do
something illegal so that they can stay in jail and sped a peaceful night.
Changes because of living on streets
All the participants explain that living on streets have brought various kinds of changes
within themselves. They are more cautious and suspicious of people get to understand one’s own
needs and requirements in a much better manner.
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According to L she says that living on street has made more suspicious of people and
always makes sure that make sure that no one gets the better of you.
But according to Gemma she says that she still haven’t changed as she is still the same
person she was before but however she is much harder then before in terms of her health, looks
etc.
Health issues or medical facilities
There is no doubt that living on streets do degrade one’s own health. According to all the
respondents one’s own health is degraded and there is no medical facilities available for rough
sleepers. One of their health was affected mentally and one of their health affected physically
(Boobis, Jacob and Sanders, 2019). One of the participants also explains that when one wants
medical attention they cannot directly move to a hospital as they do not have a proper address to
register.
According to L people who needed medical attention they cannot go to doctor but all they
can do is shoplift some paracetamol. If one is coughing, they cannot do anything.
As said by Gemma If one need medical attention then one cannot go directly to the doctors
but they can go to A&E for check-up. But even there other patients do not live rough sleepers
vising and waiting with them.
So according to the respondents and their experience it is quite difficult to live on streets
and one has to start their lives from zero daily and had to daily struggle to live and survive on the
streets.
DISCUSSION
Rough sleepers In London are facing large number of problems while leaving. They need
to manage their lives according to requirement. Their is a reason for each and every person to
become a rough sleeper, In above research we try to find out live of people who are rough
sleepers. A girl named Gemma facing large number of problems while spending her live and
work with all difficulties that affects her childhood. With help of above study, we get to know
that environment of home affects overall upbringing of an individual they are not able to
concentrate properly on their carrier. Due to worse environment at their homes they are unable to
live freely at their homes and it affects their overall life (Johnsen, Watts and Fitzpatrick, 2019).
Leaving in a hostel is not easy for children because they are unable to share their feelings with
anyone and it effects their overall presence of mind. Leaving in a hostel alone increase chances
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of bad habits in an individual. They are unable to concentrate on their studies. For success of
children parents need to keep near them till the time when they are able to take decision and
know what is wrong and right for them. Difficulties in life effects overall life of an individual
and unable to work according to requirement of business. Girl is facing difficulties with her
partner and due to their bad relationship and she also has a baby with her which need to taken
care properly. Unable to leave properly with partner make a girl develop a negative image in
mind for all other people in society (Comarty and Strickland, 2018). Achieve goals and
objectives is not easy as a children and need to take care about each and every new thing that
effect overall motive of an individual. Bad relationship affect overall mental health of an
individual as he is unable to work according to requirement. A girl is rough sleepers which
shows that how much difficulties she is facing to leave, large number of new people you met
some are good and some of them are bad. Large number of criminals and a lot of men will find
on street of London as rough sleepers. Sleeping at different places is not easy for an individual
and need to face large number of problems while leaving on streets. Its hard to leave as a rough
sleeper girl find large number of people in her journey and need to manage all problems on her
own no one is near to take proper care. Girl is working on her own and need to take proper care
about everyone in market. Facing problem alone will make a lot of problems for an individual
that effects and unable to improve lives of an individual. Girl find some friends as living her life
as a rough sleeper, a girl name Meg that she trusts but no longer available with her. She need to
take all care of her own. Overall journey of girl in which she need to face lot of problems and
deal with them on her own.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Boobis, S., Jacob, R. and Sanders, B., 2019. A HOME FOR ALL: UNDERSTANDING
MIGRANT HOMELESSNESS IN GREAT BRITAIN.
Comarty, H. and Strickland, P., 2018. Rough Sleepers and Anti-Social Behaviour (England).
London, UK: HOC Library.
Johnsen, S., Watts, B. and Fitzpatrick, S., 2019. Rebalancing the Rhetoric: A Normative
Analysis of Enforcement in Street Homelessness Policy. Urban Studies.
Mackie, P., Johnsen, S. and Wood, J., 2017. Ending rough sleeping: what works. An
international evidence review. London: Crisis.
Mackie, P., Johnsen, S. and Wood, J., 2018. What works to end rough sleeping?. Parity, 31(3),
p.33.
Mackie, P., Johnsen, S. and Wood, J., 2019. Ending Street Homelessness: What Works and Why
We Don’t Do It. European Journal of Homelessness _ Volume, 13(1).
Watts, B., Fitzpatrick, S. and Johnsen, S., 2018. Controlling homeless people? Power,
interventionism and legitimacy. Journal of Social Policy, 47(2), pp.235-252.
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