New journal pairs academic research with community expertise
A new publication aiming to bring academic research into direct conversation with knowledge and expertise held within UK communities has launched today (22 Sep).
The Journal for Community Studies is published by the Institute for Community Studies, part of non-profit organisation The Young Foundation, with its inaugural issue supported by the Centre for Collaboration in Community Connectedness (C4).
The journal aims to challenge traditional assumptions about who creates knowledge and what constitutes evidence. Its format pairs academic research with a response from a community practitioner, organisation or leader, creating a dialogue between research findings and lived experience.
In her foreword to the first issue, Dr Sue Griffiths, CEO of the Institute for Community Studies and The Young Foundation, describes the journal as a space where ‘evidence and experience meet’ and where community-led research is recognised as ‘an indispensable part’ of the evidence base.
The first edition features contributions from researchers and academics at the universities of Reading, Stirling, Greenwich and Sheffield Hallam, alongside community leaders from organisations across the UK, including Clackmannanshire Third Sector Interface, Community Land Trust Network, Intergenerational England, Lambeth Links, the Brixton Project and Darnall Well Being.
Topics covered include social infrastructure for connected communities, the impact of community ownership, nurturing meaningful intergenerational relationships, understanding diverse communities, and inclusion and participation in the digital age.
Dr Jack Layton, an editor of the Journal and Place Research and Impact Manager at the Institute for Community Studies, said: “Exceptional research is happening every day in communities, charities, local organisations and through people with direct lived experience. Yet too often that knowledge is overlooked or difficult to access. The Journal for Community Studies creates a new space where academic researchers and community partners can learn from one another, challenge assumptions, and develop new ideas together.
“We hope this publication will help build a richer understanding of the issues shaping communities across the UK and inspire new collaborations between researchers, policymakers, practitioners and communities themselves.”
The journal forms part of the Institute for Community Studies’ wider work to bridge gaps between communities, evidence and policymaking, with an emphasis on research grounded in everyday experience and informed by those closest to the issues being studied.
Sarah Pearson, Director of the Centre for Collaboration in Community Connectedness, said: “The solutions to many of the challenges facing communities already exist within communities themselves. The task for researchers, policymakers and practitioners is to listen, learn and work in partnership.
“That is why C4 is delighted to support the first issue of the Journal for Community Studies. By bringing together academic evidence and community voice, the journal creates a valuable new platform for collaboration and learning. We hope it will spark new conversations, strengthen connections across sectors, and contribute to a deeper understanding of what helps communities thrive.”