Xiaohongshu
Uncover the impact of a long-standing community charity supporting families across East London!
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
Dockland Settlements is a charitable organisation providing sporting, social, recreational, and educational activities across East London. The charity also offers low-cost playcare services that help parents return to work or remain in employment.
Since 1894, Dockland Settlements has supported more than half a million people and continues to work within the communities surrounding its centres in Newham, Southwark, and Tower Hamlets. Through a range of programmes and services, the organisation aims to improve wellbeing, reduce isolation, and create opportunities for local residents of all ages.
Their foodbank currently supports around 1,200 people each week, across three days. Warm Haven community cafe runs alongside the foodbank and gives people access to hot food, chargers, Wifi, showers and companionship.
A bit about the project
This project focuses on helping Dockland Settlements better understand who is using its services and how those services are supporting local communities.
Working alongside charity staff and a team of student researchers, you will design and deliver a quantitative survey exploring service-user demographics, patterns of participation, and community needs. The data collected will contribute to a wider impact report that will be shared with potential funders and stakeholders.
This opportunity offers hands-on experience of the early stages of a research project, allowing you to develop practical skills in research design, community engagement, and data collection while supporting a local charity.
- What can I expect from this opportunity?
- Work alongside Dockland Settlements staff and a team of student researchers.
- Gain practical experience designing and delivering a quantitative survey.
- Build confidence engaging with community members in a professional setting.
- Learn how charities use research evidence to understand and improve their services.
- Develop an understanding of inclusive and accessible research design.
- Collect real-world data that will contribute to an organisational impact report.
- Experience how research can be used to support funding applications and service development.
- Contribute to a project with a clear social purpose and tangible community impact.
- How will my work on this project impact the community?
- Help Dockland Settlements better understand the needs and characteristics of the people who use its services.
- Ensure community voices are captured and represented in future planning.
- Provide evidence that supports future funding applications and stakeholder engagement.
- Help demonstrate the value and reach of the charity's programmes.
- Contribute to the long-term sustainability of services supporting local families and residents.
- Assist the charity in identifying opportunities to improve and expand its provision.
- Generate evidence that strengthens the organisation's ability to support local communities.
What key tasks will the volunteer team be responsible for?
- Project Planning
- Work with Dockland Settlements staff to agree research aims and key questions.
- Review existing surveys and research materials that may be adapted for the project.
- Develop an understanding of the charity's services and target communities.
- Survey Development
- Design the charity's first quantitative survey exploring demographics and service usage.
- Ensure survey questions are clear, accessible, and appropriate for a diverse audience.
- Review and refine survey materials in collaboration with charity staff.
- Data Collection and Stakeholder Engagement
- Deliver surveys in person at the Stratford centre and potentially other community locations.
- Engage professionally and sensitively with service users.
- Collect and securely record survey responses.
- Work collaboratively with fellow volunteers to maximise participation.
What skills will I practice and develop during this experience?
- Survey design and quantitative research methods.
- Community-based data collection.
- Developing research questions and methodologies.
- Ethical and inclusive research practice.
- Communication with diverse and potentially vulnerable groups.
- Stakeholder engagement.
- Project planning and teamwork.
- Professional communication skills.
- Understanding how research supports community organisations and decision-making.
- A project briefing outlining research aims and objectives.
- Guidance on engaging appropriately with service users.
- Ongoing support and supervision from Dockland Settlements staff during data collection activities.
- Opportunities to discuss project progress and receive feedback throughout the research process.