Xiaohongshu
Join us for our Tower Hamlets Community Mapping 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
As the UK’s largest canal charity, our role in protecting and revitalising our nation’s canals never stops. And we couldn’t do this without people like you. It takes many hands and hearts to keep our 250-year-old bridges, locks, reservoirs and towpaths in working condition, and many more to help nature, wildlife and people to thrive. Take a few minutes to become part of our story - About Us Video
A bit about the project
This project gives you the chance to help the Canal & River Trust deepen its understanding of the borough of Tower Hamlets so it can design meaningful, community‑led activities around the local canals. You’ll explore who lives in the borough, what their needs are, and which organisations are already active in the area. By building a clear picture of the community and potential partners, you’ll help the Trust create wellbeing initiatives that genuinely resonate with local residents and make the canals a more welcoming, accessible space for everyone
- What can I expect from this opportunity?
- Dive into real demographic and community data to understand the people of Tower Hamlets.
- Explore published information on health, deprivation, and activity levels to identify local needs.
- Map out key community groups, charities, and stakeholders across the borough.
- Identify partnership opportunities that could help the Trust reach new audiences.
- Gain hands‑on experience in community research, data analysis, and strategic thinking.
- Contribute to a project that will directly shape future wellbeing activities along the canals.
- How will my work on this project impact the community?
- Help the Canal & River Trust design activities that reflect the real needs of Tower Hamlets residents.
- Support more inclusive, accessible engagement with local waterways.
- Strengthen connections between the Trust and grassroots organisations already supporting the community.
- Contribute to wellbeing initiatives that promote physical activity, social connection, and outdoor access.
- Ensure that future programmes are targeted, relevant, and genuinely beneficial for local people.
What key tasks will the volunteer team be responsible for?
- Build a Demographic Profile of Tower Hamlets
- Use published datasets to explore population size, age, ethnicity, languages, and household structures.
- Identify trends that may influence how residents engage with outdoor and wellbeing activities.
- Present findings in a clear, accessible way for the Trust’s planning team.
- Conduct a Community Needs Assessment
- Analyse data on deprivation, health outcomes, physical activity levels, and local challenges.
- Identify which groups may benefit most from targeted wellbeing initiatives.
- Highlight barriers that might prevent residents from engaging with the canals.
- Map Local Stakeholders and Community Groups
- Identify active charities, grassroots groups, and community organisations across Tower Hamlets.
- Explore their missions, audiences, and current activities.
- Highlight groups whose work aligns with the Trust’s goals.
- Present back to Canals & Rivers Trust
- Work as a team to hone your data and mapping into a clear presentation for Canals & Rivers Trust
- Create an accessible summary of the project with actionable recommendations ready to implement
What skills will I practice and develop during this experience?
- Data analysis and interpretation, using real demographic and community datasets.
- Community research skills, including needs assessments and stakeholder mapping.
- Strategic thinking, identifying opportunities for collaboration and impact.
- Communication and presentation, turning complex data into clear insights.
- Understanding of the voluntary and community sector, especially in diverse urban areas.
Time commitment
For this project we anticipate 2-3 months of work, perhaps with weekly commitment depends on the workload/ design plan.