Participatory video to evaluate community-led research

Between 2022 and 2023, as part of the British Science Association’s Community-Led Research Pilot, we helped design and deliver an accessible training programme to support community-led research in Reading and Slough. Since then, community groups have been implementing their research projects and now we’re helping to evaluate the outcomes using participatory video.

Over the last few months, we’ve been working closely with two community groups in Reading, the Integrated Research and Development Centre (IRDC) and the Reading Hongkongers CIC, to use participatory video to evaluate how their projects have impacted community health and wellbeing. Both projects have focused on undertaking scientific research on growing food and gardening.

Our work in this process has involved training and workshops in participatory video and health/wellbeing evaluation, technical video training, supporting the groups to collect the footage, and most recently, editing the participatory videos for screening and feedback.

It’s been an enriching experience for us, getting to know these two community groups, their challenges and motivations, their generosity and hospitality and sharing tips on growing food! The screening will be in a few weeks’ time, watch this space!