Peer Research

At High Trees, we train individuals to become peer action researchers, enabling them to lead research within and for their communities.

Peer Action Research is a participatory, action-focused approach where individuals with direct experience of the issues being investigated take an active role in directing or conducting the research. This method moves away from traditional social research, where professional researchers produce knowledge ‘about’ a community, often leaving them feeling excluded and exploited. Instead, peer action research is more ethical, inclusive, democratic, and relevant to the communities involved.

Our work from 2021-2024

From 2021 to 2024, we partnered with local youth organisations such as Juvenis, IRMO, Spiral, St Matthews Project, and MLCE. Together, we recruited and trained a dynamic team of 12 young people in research and organising. This team, known as the Lambeth Peer Action Collective (LPAC), embarked on a mission to uncover the root causes of violence affecting young people in Lambeth.

The LPAC team was involved in every step of the research process, from developing the research design, methods, and tools to collecting and analysing data and disseminating findings. Through their inaugural project, the LPAC team engaged over 400 young people aged 11-25 through one-on-one interviews and creative research workshops. Additionally, they involved over 200 young changemakers in developing a manifesto and acting based on their research findings setting a new standard for participatory action research in Lambeth.

Future direction

Building on the success of their initial research and social action, the LPAC has now become an embedded partnership. Their research focus has broadened to include any issue important to young people, not just violence. Our work with LPAC over the past few years has also contributed to the establishment of the new Lambeth Community Research Network. This network aims to reduce duplication, improve coordination, quality, ethics and spread participatory action research methods across the Voluntary Community Sector in Lambeth to ensure all research leads to positive change for our communities.

Peer research projects

Lambeth Peer Action Collective

Following on from LPAC’s original piece of research on Understanding Young People’s Experiences of Violence in Lambeth, the collective has now started its second round of peer research, exploring the role of trusted adults and spaces in protecting young people from experiences of violence.

Learn more