Ways, means and consequences of community research Ellie Brodie, Researcher, NCVO. Fleur Bragalia, Researcher, Salvation Army Ceri Davies, Development.

Ways, means and consequences of community

researchEllie Brodie, Researcher, NCVO. Fleur Bragalia, Researcher, Salvation ArmyCeri Davies, Development Manager, Community University Partnership Programme (Cupp), University of Brighton

11th November 2011ARVAC AGM and Annual Conference

OverviewIntroductionsWhat is community research to you? Examples of community research Exercise: benefits and drawbacks of

different approachesDiscussion: consequences of community

research

What is community

research to you?

Ways and means: three models

The ‘traditional’ modelFinding out about community groups and

activity using professional researchers

The ‘co-production’ modelFacilitating a research process that draws on

and values local knowledge

The ‘empowerment’ model Community identify the problem and are trained

to do research themselves

1. The ‘traditional’ modelWhat?

The Northern Rock Foundation, Third Sector Trends Study: Mapping Under the Radar Organisations

http://www.nr-foundation.org.uk/thirdsectortrends/

Why? Generating an evidence base to inform policy and practice

How? Using existing data Conducting their own surveys Secondary analysis of the Labour Force and Citizenship

surveys Consequences?

Greater numbers of UTR than OTR organisations: demonstrates ‘community capacity’

2. The ‘co-production’ model (1) What?

Pathways through Participation: partnership project between NCVO, IVR and Involve (ongoing).

www.pathwaysthroughparticipation.org.uk Why?

To explore how and why people get involved and stay involved in their communities.

How? Range of methods: literature review, stakeholder interviews,

mapping workshops, life history interviews, participatory workshops.

Co-production: Mapping workshops with residents and community groups

Consequences? Facilitated snowball sampling, built relationships Increased participants knowledge of area

The co-production model (2) What?

Taking Account: A Social and Economic Audit of the Community & Voluntary Sector in Brighton (2008)

Why? To evidence the social and economic impact of the sector in

Brighton.  How?

Cross sector steering group of 8 (+ paid secondments) Co-designed research questionnaire Co-analysed results and developed the project report

Consequences? Key working links across sectors established in relation to the

topic Best practice methodology Robust evidence for the VCS in future strategy and resourcing

The empowerment model (1) What?

‘Talking Pictures’ –collecting oral histories from older people related to their earlier experiences of Brighton’s Duke of York cinema

Why? To capture the changing nature of cinema going and its social

meaning over the last 100 years through older people’s stories for collection and preservation.

How? Collection of oral histories (trained community members and

moving image students) Consequences?

volunteers with research skills able to be applied in different settings

Case study resources for university degrees Inclusion of older people Increased capacity in Queenspark books

The empowerment model (2)Voluntary Action Islington (VAI) developed and

piloted a new research model.3 research clusters of 3 local community groups.Each with a research questionEach cluster supported by a research mentor – who

supported the group to participate in research and a bespoke training programme on how to do research.

Colloborative approach.ARVAC, Voluntary Action Islington, City Parachial,

LVSC, Giovanna Speciale and Islington Central Library

The empowerment model (2 cont)Each cluster produced a research report reporting their

own primary research findings. “No recourse to advice, An Islington community research project

– What are the effects on individuals and community advice organisation when advice is refused” – Improving Reach. “Bereavement and Homelessness: Coping and struggling with loss” – CARIS, “A research report by Islington Local Involvement Network on the experiences of patients leaving hospital” – LINK Islington,

All were written in conjunction with VAI and ARVAC.

Reports influenced PCTs (featured in JSNAs), Islington Council, other third sector providers and internal practices.

What do you think are the pros and cons of the different

approaches?

Consequences of community research

What have been the consequences of

community research you have been

involved with?

What can we do to make community

research more consequential?

Contact us. . .

[email protected] [email protected]@salvationarmy.org.uk