Together for Change launches the Cymru Wledig LPIP Rural Community-led Research Programme Workshop and Seminar Series
Cymru Wledig LPIP Rural Wales in association with Together for Change bring you a Workshop and Seminar Series designed for anyone in a community or working with communities who would like to use research as a tool for action. No prior educational attainment or skills are required to take part.
“Communities across rural Wales already hold a huge amount of knowledge and skill. This programme builds on what’s already there – strengthening confidence, creating space to learn from each other, and growing a network of organisations who can support one another in using research for change. We’ve designed the series so people can dip in and out in a way that fits around real life and busy schedules” Jessie Buchanan, Director, Together for Change.
The Cymru Wledig LPIP Rural Wales Community-led Research Programme aims to equip rural communities to gather and analyse evidence to address locally-identified policy challenges and needs. Working with an assigned academic mentor, community participants design and carry out a research project on an issue of their choosing, collecting and analysing data and agreeing follow-on actions. The research results could be used to find solutions that can be introduced within the community, to support applications for external funding, or to make a case for investment or policy changes to local or national government or to public agencies.
Together for Change have identified that there is demand from communities across Rural Wales to explore the potential benefits of using research. During a recent funding call 47 community groups applied for a grant to carry out community-led research through the LPIP but only 6 could get funded. Therefore, it’s hoped that this education and training series, with opportunities to learn from other communities, can support communities across Wales to build on their research skills.
The fully funded online and in-person sessions are a chance to learn about what community-led action research is, get up to speed with some basic research and project management skills for a community setting and explore what collaboration with academics and policy makers could mean for your community.
Online lunch time seminars include a range of guest speakers with expertise in different aspects of community-led research. The sessions are free and individually bookable.
There will also be a few in-person all day workshops taking place in different parts of Wales. These are an opportunity to step out of the busy work environment and immerse in building research skills such as interviewing and Most Significant Change. These sessions are also fully funded for participants.
To be kept up to date for new seminar and workshop date releases you can sign up to the seminar series news alerts online.
Together for Change will record every session that is appropriate to and publish on their Vimeo channel.
If you have any questions or suggestions for a session theme that would be helpful, please email Amy Nicholass and Jessie Buchanan at post@tfc.cymru.
