Advert for Community Researcher

1625 Independent People are looking for 6 people to take on the role of Community Researchers, leading the research of local histories and working alongside young people towards creating a heritage inspired sound piece. The project will pair participants, support them to identify an area of interest, and explore the working-class histories of Old Market, Bristol together.  

This project is funded by Historic England and is part of the ‘Everyday Heritage’ Project. 

Who are we? 

1625 Independent People works with young people aged 16-25 who are homeless, leaving care or at risk of homelessness in Bristol and the South West. Our services ranges from signposting or advice, to intensive one-to one support, supported housing, group activities and peer support. 

We have been working on a National Heritage Lottery Funded heritage project based on our organisation’s headquarters, Kingsley Hall. This Everyday Heritage Project will expand the research and activities to the wider local area of Old Market. 

The Role:  

You will... 

• Pair up with a participant, a young person involved with 1625ip or another local youth organisation, t and develop a positive relationship to enable collaboration and co-creation.

• Lead the explorations of the archive material gathered by the heritage team and make key research decisions, supported by the heritage team.  

• Work with your participant partner to identify an area of research interest and support the participant to engage with the found research and work together to reach out to local community members, local archives etc in order to fill in the gaps.

• Work collaboratively, flexibly and creatively with the participant to use the research and utilize the skills from the training to plan the sound piece and gather recordings. This may involve interviews, creative recordings like dramatizations or music, or field recordings. Work with  the whole team to bring together the group’s ideas for the recordings to make a collaborative, professional final sound piece.

The sound piece will be launched and shared on our website and with partners in January.   

Expectations and commitment:

• Attend at least 6-7 sessions

• Be available for training W/C 23rd September and the Project Launch Chat W/C 30th September

• Have an Enhanced DBS or be willing to get one (we can support this)

• Provide details of someone who can provide a character reference

What can we offer you? 

• £300 remuneration for taking on a lead role in researching and working with young people  

• Free training to support you in the role (e.g. safeguarding, working with young people, recording and research training) 

• Opportunity to work alongside a professional sound designer to create a sound piece. 

• Experience and skills through working with young people, on a heritage project and sound recording.

• Have your co-created sound piece shared on 1625ip’s and partner platforms.

• Be part of a project that creates a lasting record celebrating and sharing the everyday heritage stories of Old Market