"Citizen Researchers" Open Call

Passionate about London’s spaces for diverse communities? Help us to map London’s vital community and cultural infrastructure and to understand the risks it faces.

We Made That are hiring Citizen Researchers to join our team for an exciting project commissioned by the Mayor of London’s Culture and Community Spaces at Risk Office. You do not need to have research experience as training and support will be offered as part of the role, but we are on the lookout for enthusiasm and commitment.

Application deadline is 7th March 2022 at 10am. Read more below.

About the project

The Greater London Authority (GLA)’s Culture & Community Spaces at Risk Office has a remit to safeguard London’s community and cultural infrastructure, providing direct support and advocacy to organisations and community groups on a case-by-case basis. They aim to move at-risk spaces from threat and towards long-term sustainability.

In response to the compounding evidence of the threats to community infrastructure, particularly led by and serving underrepresented groups, the GLA is looking to map, gather data and conduct risk analysis on some of the capital key cultural and community assets. In particular:

1. Diverse-led cultural infrastructure
2. Community infrastructure contributing to community resilience and civic strength
3. Spaces and sites valued by diverse communities for their cultural heritage

What do the roles involve?

We are looking for up to 12 people who have an interest in understanding London’s diverse communities and producing research to help better understand the infrastructure that support and cater for them. You will receive training and ongoing support to fulfil your role. Key tasks will include:

• Working alongside We Made That and other citizen researchers to design/carry out research and map culture and community spaces at risk across London;
• Desk-based research, collecting and analysing data;
• On-the-ground research and engagement with local community representatives and organisations, including seldom heard groups;
• Attending research training, workshops and support meetings offered as part of the project;
• Carrying out specific tasks delegated to you within the team;
• Participating in the analysis of the information collected, as well as sharing your ideas and recommendations.

During the data collection, citizen researchers may be asked to go to specific places to interview people or carrying out surveys. Some training sessions and meetings can also happen in person. However, we are flexible and can accommodate individual personal situations.

What we’re looking for

We are looking to build a team of Citizen Researchers reflecting London’s diverse communities. We are particularly interested in supporting an early career individual in developing their skills in research, data collection and mapping as part of an ambitious, peer-led project. We’d love to hear from you if you:

• Are London-based, ideally demonstrating links within local communities in London
• Are able to communicate with a range of people
• Can demonstrate some experience or a strong interest in social, community or urban research, and/or cultural heritage/identities
• Have a good digital literacy and a working knowledge of MS Excel
• Are curious about research methods and collaborative research
• Ideally identify yourself as someone from a diverse or underrepresented background
• Eligible to work in the UK

What’s in it for you?

We Made That Urban Research Unit will support you to carry out the research. We will offer research training and organise support meetings. This will include briefing you on the topic area, scheduling group meetings, providing all resources needed to carry out research.

You will also get the opportunity to take part in training and support from leading practitioners, policy-makers and researchers, who will provide ‘masterclasses’ to help to develop your research practice as a Citizen Researcher. You will join a network of researchers passionate about safeguarding London’s culture and community spaces at risk.

Details and how to apply

The bulk of the research will run from mid-March to end of April 2022. We are looking for researchers that can commit from a minimum of 10 days across this period. You will be paid the London Living Wage and be supported by London travel stipend.

To apply, please fill out the following online role application here.

The application deadline is 7th March 2022 at 10am. Informal interviews will be held from 8th March onwards.

Access and support

We welcome applicants from a range of educational backgrounds and therefore do not require any formal qualifications to apply. If there is any additional support we could offer you to enable you to participate – in either the selection process or the research – please include this in your application or contact us before the deadline.

If you have any questions about the role or application, or if you would like to submit your application in a different format, please contact Melissa Frateantonio at melissa@wemadethat.co.uk.