Community Research Programme
Free research support for voluntary and community organisations
Community led research means that local people help shape the questions, the process and the outcomes.
This approach helps your organisation to:
- Understand real needs, rather than assumptions
- Strengthen trust with the people you support
- Create services and activities grounded in your community's needs
- Produce evidence that funders and partners value
- Turn insight into action, such as new services, campaigns or funding bids
Even by working directly with 10–20 community members, your research can lead to practical change that reflects what matters most to your community.
The LCRN programme
Many community organisations know what issues matter locally but do not always have the time, funding or experience to carry out research. This programme is designed to remove those barriers, through:
In-person workshops to guide you through each stage of the research process.
Tailored capacity building support for your organisation.
Approval process and guidance around ethics for community research projects.
Applications are currently open for £2,000 of funding for Lambeth organisations.
Applying for a research grant
Grants of up to £2,000 are available to deliver a small scale, community-led research project. Projects should focus on issues identified by your community and show potential for positive social action in Lambeth.
Research methods can include but are not limited to:
- Interviews
- Focus groups or workshops
- Surveys
- Creative approaches (art, photography, storytelling)
Largescale projects are not expected. Support will be provided to help you design appropriate, ethical and achievable research.
You can apply for a grant, if:
- You are a voluntary or community organisation embedded within Lambeth.
- You have a proven track record of delivering service to Lambeth Residents for a minimum of 1 year.
- Your organisation has a constitution or terms of reference.
- Your organisation has a bank account that requires at least two people (who are unrelated and do not live at the same address) to make withdrawals or payments or is fiscally hosted, e.g. with the Social Change Nest .
- You have public liability insurance.
- You and all your staff/volunteers who will work on the project have DBS.
- Your organisation has Safeguarding and Data Protection policies in place.
Don’t have all these documents?
Please do get in touch as we can refer you to the Lambeth Hubs team, who may be able to help you create them in time for you to apply by the deadline.
How to apply
Once you have read the guidance notes, there are three ways you can apply.
All applications must be received by Monday 18th May 2026 at 11.59pm
Complete the application form and email it to: research@high-trees.org
It is also possible to apply for a grant via video submission: research@high-trees.org. For advice on how to do this, please contact Danny at High Trees, details below. Please be aware that all the relevant documentation will still need to be submitted.
For help, support or advice on filling in your application form, please contact Danny Hatfeild at High Trees: danny.hatfeild@high-trees.org or call: 0208 671 3132.
Getting support
Research training
Our programme of research training workshops will be starting in June. These will be free and available to all Lambeth voluntary and community organisations that provide services for residents. Please register your interest here and we will let you know as soon as dates and times for the workshops have been confirmed.
One-to-one support and Ethical Approval
If you are an established Lambeth organisation (i.e. have been providing services for at least a a year) and already have a research project in mind, we can provide up to three days of tailored one-to-one support. We can also support you with applying for LCRN Ethical Approval. For more information please get in touch with us directly.
The programme is funded by the High Trees Development Trust, the Walcot Foundation and Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, and is delivered by High Trees.
