A Revolution in Third Sector Research?
Research4Change is a pilot programme that promises to provide affordable, quality-assured research to third sector organisations on a budget. This ‘no frills’ scheme provides research support to community groups, voluntary organisations, and social enterprises at lower fees than those charged by large commercial consultancy practices.
Research4Change is reportedly designed to get organisations from A to B without the frills, fuss, or expense of other traditional options. Their focus will be on small-scale assignments that help organisations to make their case, extend their influence, and develop or sustain their services - including market research, community consultation, best practice reviews, funding searches, service user surveys, etc.
The research support is provided by a pool of research graduates, early career researchers, and experienced researchers. In a tough economic climate the scheme has been designed to help support researchers to build or sustain a career in conducting research that matters. Only highly qualified researchers are selected.
The Research4Change programme is designed to be self-sustaining, operating as it does without grant subsidy. The costs of research design, management, supervision and support from experienced third sector researchers are built into each assignment. They claim that quality assurance is their central feature.
Commenting on the thinking behind this new venture from the Social Value Lab, Jonathan Coburn (founding Director and Principal Consultant at the Lab) said:
The market for third sector research is broken. Third sector organisations need research evidence now more than ever, but can’t get it at a reasonable cost or quality. Qualified researchers have a huge amount to offer, but can’t get the break that they deserve. This is our solution. It’s one that we hope will shake things up.”
The programme claims to have received much interest from talented young researchers. Commenting on the value of the scheme, Charlotte Mitchell (one of the Research4Change pool of researchers) said:
I qualified with an MSc in Public Health Research earlier this year and have built up quite a bit of experience working with charities in the past as a volunteer or intern. Despite this, there are limited job opportunities in the social research field at the moment. This scheme comes at a perfect time for me and will hopefully lead on to further opportunities.”
The Research4Change scheme is part of the Social Value Lab’s long-term vision to revolutionise the way that research is commissioned and conducted in the third sector. Commenting on the programme, Gerry Higgins (Chief Executive of third sector support body CEiS and a Director at the Lab) said:
Often voluntary organisations and social enterprises are uncertain about where to shop for research support, find it difficult to verify quality, or can’t afford the excessive fees being charged by large commercial consultancies. This initiative provides a win-win situation by offering affordable research that is of genuine social value, while providing much needed opportunities to qualified researchers.”
If you are interested in finding out more about Research4Change visit www.research4change.org.
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