Innovations in local knowledge production for urban policy
Lead Research Organisation:
University College London
Department Name: Science, Tech, Eng and Public Policy
Abstract
This award is facilitating an investigation into how local knowledge is accessed, translated and used to effect policy and practice at the Greater London Authority. The student is looking specifically at a handful of innovative community-based participatory research initiatives. In the context of these projects they are asking: how can community-based participatory research enable the public to engage meaningfully in urban decision-making? And, how can community-based participatory research help community and local government actors to work together in the co-production of urban policy?
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP/N509577/1 | 01/10/2016 | 24/03/2022 | |||
| 1932825 | Studentship | EP/N509577/1 | 01/10/2017 | 02/05/2022 | Joanna Sawkins |
| EP/R513143/1 | 01/10/2018 | 30/09/2023 | |||
| 1932825 | Studentship | EP/R513143/1 | 01/10/2017 | 02/05/2022 | Joanna Sawkins |
| Description | Joanna is participating in a four-year doctorate (a PhD). Her host academic partner is University College London (UCL) and her work is supervised by the Urban Innovation & Policy Lab in the Department of Science, Technology, Engineering & Public Policy. The Greater London Authority are her host policy partner and contribute funding through a CASE Award. In the first year of funding Joanna began to build a proper relationship with her CASE Award Partner. Following a series of pan-organisation meetings and interviews in June-December 2018 and following 3-month research residency in a partner community-based organisation, Joanna re-designed her study. The details of her current study are contained here (these will pull through to Research Fish in November 2020). Award Title: Innovations in local knowledge production for urban policy Award Abstract: This award is facilitating an investigation into how local knowledge is accessed, translated and used to effect policy and practice at the Greater London Authority. The student is looking specifically at a handful of innovative community-based participatory research initiatives. In the context of these projects they are asking: how can community-based participatory research enable the public to engage meaningfully in urban decision-making? And, how can community-based participatory research help community and local government actors to work together in the co-production of urban policy? In her second year of funding Joanna came to connect with and developed a close working relationship with the GLA's Community Engagement team. Since January 2019 she has been working hands-on as a facilitator and advisor in relation to two 'flagship' Community Engagement programmes: the 'London Community Story' and 'Citizen-Led Engagement Programme'. Joanna has been studying these programmes and has been able to share her findings with both government, academic and community audiences. |
| Exploitation Route | As a collaborative project with the GLA, many of the outcomes have been taken forward specifically by people working in local government and the third sector. The topic is interdisciplinary and all policy teams could put the findings from this project to use. So far, Joanna has seen her outcomes taken forward by people working in the below categories - |
| Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Creative Economy,Education,Environment |
| URL | https://www.london.gov.uk/LDNCommunityStory |
| Description | Findings from this award were used to help design and run something called a Community Researcher Network. This was a Greater London Authority (GLA) network comprised of members of the public who this award supported and facilitated to do research. Joanna facilitated four Data Analysis Workshops which resulted in the thematic focus of the later London Community Story into areas of Belonging, Journeys & Travelling, Identity, Relationships, Digital Communities and Equality. Findings from this award helped to evaluate five Information & Capacity Building Sessions the GLA ran for third sector organisations putting in applications for funding for community-led research projects through Mayor of London's Citizen-Led Engagement Programme. At an Inception Event for the programme, Joanna was able to present her approach evaluation to leaders from some of the third sector organisations. As a result of this, Joanna went on to lead a total of five Research & Evaluation Workshops for people these third sector organisations work with (members of the public and service users). Findings from this award helped Joanna to write an evaluative policy-brief in relation to the Citizen-Led Engagement Programme. Joanna presented this briefing in a workshop for GLA community engagement and social policy staff and it's findings have been informing community engagement practice at the GLA and the commissioning of further evaluative work. Findings from this award have also been presented formally at local government events. Joanna has presented firstly on 'Community Research in a Global Context' and secondly on 'What is Peer Research?' to audiences made up of people working at the GLA and across London Borough Councils. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2019 |
| Sector | Communities and Social Services/Policy |
| Impact Types | Societal,Policy & public services |
| Description | London Community Story Working Group |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | Joanna was a member of the London Community Story Working Group, a core team working on community engagement at the Greater London Authority. Through active membership and participation, Joanna has been able to learn about the group and share her developing expertise. She has had an impact on the group's practice: specifically how best to engage members of the public with public policy research. This work is ongoing but it is safe to say that Joanna's participation has already had a direct positive impact on the engagement practices of 3-4 Officers at City Hall. |
| URL | https://www.london.gov.uk/LDNCommunityStory |
| Description | Workshops for members of the public involved with the Community Researcher Network |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Joanna designed and led four Data Analysis Workshops. The aim was to facilitate members of the public to listen to, transcribe and analyse a 15 hour audio archive of Londoners in conversations with one another at six Mayor of London events. Through participating in the workshops, the public were able to organise the archive into six thematic areas (Belonging, Journeys & Travelling, Identity, Relationships, Digital Communities and Equality). The workshops (an surrounding related work) informed the production of the London Community Story and it's engagement approach. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.london.gov.uk/LDNCommunityStory |
| Description | Workshops for organisations involved with Citizen-Led |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | Joanna designed and led a series of Research & Evaluation Workshops for third sector organisations planning community research projects in London. In the first workshop, Joanna was able to present her approach to project evaluation to leaders from 11 third sector organisations in receipt of Mayor of London funding. Following this, Joanna was invited to four of the organisations to lead Research & Evaluation Workshops for members of the public and service users. These workshops provided training for these people, who then went on to participate in the community research projects. The methods taught in the workshops were used in the projects, with the workshops being cited as helpful in designing and delivering the research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019,2020 |