Xiaohongshu
Join us for our Exploration of Social Support Staff's Wellbeing project
The Research Volunteering programme through the Community Research Initiative gives YOU the power to take your research and classroom skills out into the community to create a positive social impact. Through our bite size projects, you’ll work with a group of interdisciplinary peers and organisational allies to tackle a project that will draw on your research skills. These projects are flexible and designed with students in mind to give you amazing experience to fuel your CV, explore new skills, and meet other likeminded students. Each opportunity is unique, make sure to check out our page for more information.
All about the organisation
Centre 404 is a local community charity in North London that offers friendly, reliable and person-centred support to people with learning disabilities, autism and their families. It was founded in 1951 by carers of children with learning disabilities and continues to work towards building a community and a society where people with learning disabilities are valued and involved members of our community. We help people gain skills to live independently, give advice and guidance to families, and hold a range of group activities, clubs and events.
A bit about the project
Centre 404 are a long-standing, successful charity operating across 8 London boroughs. Following the appointment of their new CEO last year, they are going through a period of change and soon to release their new strategic plan. One of the areas Centre 404 are keen to explore is staff experience and how the charity can further work toward being a great place to work. This is particularly important as they develop their digital technology platforms, bring in new roles and continue to support existing staff. The UK social work industry is a significant driver of the UK economy and one that experiences both high demand and high staff turnover. Centre 404 would like to explore alternative ways to improve staff retention and wellbeing.
- What can I expect from this opportunity?
- Analyse real staff data on turnover, absence, engagement, and exit trends.
- Conduct or support staff interviews to understand lived experiences behind the numbers.
- Work as part of a small, supportive student research team.
- Contribute qualitative, quantitative, or mixed‑methods skills depending on your strengths.
- Produce a clear, actionable insights report for senior leaders.
- Gain hands‑on experience with HR‑focused research in the charity sector.
- How will my work on this project impact the community?
- Help Centre 404 strengthen staff wellbeing, retention, and development.
- Support the creation of a workplace where staff feel valued and supported.
- Improve organisational stability, which directly benefits people with learning disabilities who rely on consistent, high‑quality support.
- Provide evidence that informs HR strategy and long‑term planning.
- Contribute to a charity’s mission to be a great place to work and a trusted service provider.
What key tasks will the volunteer team be responsible for?
- Analyse Existing Staff Data
- Review anonymised data on turnover, absence, engagement, and exit trends.
- Identify patterns, gaps, and areas needing deeper exploration.
- Use quantitative analysis to build a clear picture of staff experiences.
- Dig Deeper with Qualitative Interviews
- Use data findings to pinpoint themes that require qualitative follow‑up.
- Prepare interview questions or topic areas for staff interviews.
- Meet with staff members to explore experiences behind the data.
- Use qualitative interviewing techniques to gather rich insights.
- Ensure conversations are confidential, ethical, and respectful.
- Produce a Final Insights Report
- Combine quantitative and qualitative findings into a clear, accessible report.
- Highlight key themes, challenges, and opportunities for improvement.
- Provide recommendations that can inform Centre 404’s HR strategy and staff development plans.
What skills will I practice and develop during this experience?
- Quantitative data analysis, working with real HR datasets.
- Qualitative interviewing and thematic analysis, exploring staff experiences.
- Mixed‑methods research, integrating numbers and narratives.
- Professional communication, engaging with staff and presenting findings.
- Teamwork, collaborating with fellow volunteers and Centre 404 staff.
- Understanding of the charity sector, including HR challenges and staff cycles.
- Insight into social care, especially services supporting people with learning disabilities.
Time commitment
Approximate commitment 3 hours a week – flexible working; Bi-weekly progress updates (email); Monthly meeting check-ins (virtual)