Toynbee Hall was established in 1884 with a vision to bring future leaders face to face with poverty in London’s East End. The idea was that policies and solutions should be informed by lived experience. Today we continue that journey. We co-produce research alongside local people on a range of issues affecting the community. Our research and policy work provides a platform for local voices to influence thinking and policy-making both locally and nationally based on lived experiences, to create long-term solutions to the systemic challenges people face.
Our Approach
At Toynbee Hall we conduct participatory action research (PAR) – a type of peer research. We believe that the best research comes from working hand-in-hand from the very start with people affected by the issue.
Since 2017 we have been using the PAR approach to explore topics such as the transition to net zero, access to cash in the UK, and the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on family emotional support available for young people from low-income households.
Who we’ve worked with
We partner with universities and other organisations on various research and evaluation projects. We also provide consultancy and training for participatory methodologys. Some of the organisations we’ve worked with include:
Take a look through our library to browse our research archive
If you’d like to learn more about our work, and how you can collaborate with us, please email research@toynbeehall.org.uk
