South West Foundation

More information about our Community Researcher training programme:

The programme is usually delivered over 6 single days spread over 8-10 weeks, and the final presentation is delivered to those who are influential and can often work with the researchers to bring about the changes the communities desire.

CASE STUDIES
Information on previous research projects:

Oldmixon Parents Group:
Having been trained in research and interview techniques the group went into the community and found that the most needed service was an information hub on the estate. They presented their findings to local councillors, housing associations, members of the empowering communities partnership, local residents and council staff. As a consequence they were offered the opportunity to take over an empty shop on the estate owned by the housing association. As well as running the training the Foundation organised for them to visit another successful community shop in Swindon to help the group to get some ideas for their own shop. Now 2 years on the Oldmixon's YOU shop is now a community hub raising over £5,000 in its first year through selling second hand goods.The researchers are very busy and dedicated. They organise community activites, childrens clubs, host meetings between local wardens and the public - and much more!

Some of the original researchers have gone on to be paid mentors for other groups looking to develop.

East Devon Community Researchers:
This group of researchers were already in a community group (a group of residents acting as a tenants consultancy group) and they wanted to undertake the training so they new they had the right skills to represent the tenants correctly and include everybody's views. Their research focused on the new 'saftey call out system' replacing the wardens in sheltered accomodation. Their findings demonstrated people were happy with the new system which was in turn also more economical for the housing associaition. The group have continued their good work after the scheme and are now looking at parking facilities on estates in Devon.

Torbay Researchers:
These researchers were made up of residents from the Litchfield estate in Torbay, Pendennis estate, the local church, and Torbay Voice. The final projects ranged from looking at what activities young people wanted, to issues of wheel chair users making use of public transport. The researches made a short film where they interviewed a local MP who commented on the substantial changes the researches had brought to the area, and local residents who indicated that life on the estate was beginning to improve. There were so many outcomes to this training, but the main ones were securing funding for a new children's play area, and researchers have gone on to organise outings for local children using funding given by local authorities, and the group Torbay Voice have secured money for a development worker.