‘Finding Out for Ourselves’ - Community-led action research
/This article was featured in the SCDC Weekly - 26th February 2025
Earlier this month, a group of organisations working to support community-led action research came together at The Gathering to explore the value of this approach, the benefits it can bring and how it can achieve social impact and systemic change.
Community-led action research is a process where the community decides on an issue to be researched, designs and carries out the research, and makes use of the results.
Published by Community Knowledge Matters, this article explores some of the discussion from the event, with examples of community-led action research being used in action, including from the Moray Wellbeing Hub and research undertaken as part of The Ideas Fund.
A key reflection was around the importance of building trust and capacity within community-led research, and the broader impact it can have around empowerment and community engagement.
Participants from the day also shared their views, identifying community-based research as a way to contribute to real world issues and inform positive change.
"Through collaboration, hearing community voices and developing an understanding of their needs,” the blog concludes, “research can better generate knowledge that makes a difference to them, and is truly led by them."
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