Research Library
Featured project
Emotional Support for Young People
February 2025
Research shows that young people report more mental distress and loneliness than any other group, and will experience more long-term harm due to the disruption of their education by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Toynbee Hall, in collaboration with Thrive LDN and funded by the Health Foundation, conducted a multiyear participatory action research project to explore the issue and co-design solutions.
It investigates the impact of increased living costs on families’ capacity to provide emotional support, and the consequences on young people’s health and development.
Our PAR Projects
Since 2017 Toynbee Hall has been pioneering participatory action research (PAR) approaches to social research.
Co-designing Emotional Wellbeing Activities
Drawing from the findings of our Emotional Support for Young People PAR project, we have been trialling a new co-designed approach to building emotional relations between young people and their families.
Ongoing Project
#ReshapeRelease
Supporting Switchback’s Experts by Experience to use PAR methodology to investigate the impact that recall (and the threat of recall) has within the probation system.
Ongoing Project
Freedom: Access to Cash in the UK
Starting in January 2022, Toynbee Hall’s research and policy team has been collaborating with individuals across the UK who rely on cash to gain insight into their lived experiences using a participatory action research approach.
Report due Spring 2025
Emotional Support for Young People
A PAR project in collaboration with Thrive LDN and funded by the Health Foundation looking at the impact of the cost of living crisis on young people’s ability to access emotional support from their families.
February 2025
Mental Health and Prison Release
A Switchback project supported by Toynbee Hall to help their Experts by Experience board apply PAR methodology to look at young prison-leavers experience of mental health post-release, and co-design solutions.
March 2024
Knowledge Exchange Circle
The Knowledge Exchange Circle (KEC) is a forum developed by Toynbee Hall as regular co-designed gatherings that enable people impacted by an issue, policymakers, and stakeholders to connect, share knowledge, and build relationships on equal terms to inspire action.
October 2023
Hospitality Connect
In collaboration with the University of Surrey, Toynbee Hall supported a group of peer researchers aged 60+ to conduct PAR to explore how cafes and pubs can play an influential role as third spaces in supporting social connections for older people within communities.
August 2023
Inclusive Design in Action
A case study demonstrating the importance of using inclusive design to shape policy, drawing from our PAR project that explored what a fair transition to net zero for low income consumers could look like.
May 2023
Building Marginalised Residents’ Power in Local Change-Making
Guidance aimed at local authorities, Community Safety Partnerships, housing associations and community organisations on practical approaches to improve the participation of marginalised residents in local change-making.
January 2023
Net Zero Transition for Low-income Consumers
In partnership with peer researchers impacted by fuel poverty, Fair by Design, and Ofgem, Toynbee Hall conducted PAR into the barriers to low-income consumers in transitioning to net zero and co-designed recommendations to make the transition fairer.
September 2022
Safer Homes and Neighbourhoods
Across 2 years, Toynbee Hall’s peer researchers explored residents’ concerns about community safety and connection in Tower Hamlets, and developed pilot programmes to improve community cohesion.
July 2022
A Tower Hamlets Residents Manifesto
Co-designed by the community in advance of the 2022 local elections, 10 ideas for the next Mayor of Tower Hamlets, to create a brighter, poverty-free future that we shape together.
May 2022
More than just education
A PAR project commissioned by the Greater London Authority to inform development of the Skills Roadmap for London and approaches to improving access to adult education for Londoners.
February 2022
Rent-Move-Repeat
Over the course of two years, Toynbee Hall worked with 23 peer researchers to carry out PAR to explore the risks young people face when private renting in East London. Peer researchers were also supported to join the London Housing Panel and Renters Reform Coalition.
November 2021
We’re not on a conveyor belt
Problem debt is a significant issue in London, with around one in twenty families in arrears on at least one of their household bills. In this PAR project peer researchers with experience of problem debt worked to co-design accessible and empowering advice services
October 2021
Tower Hamlets Poverty Review
A PAR project commissioned by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets as part of their wider poverty review, to identify the drivers of poverty and solutions for tackling them in Tower Hamlets in collaboration with low-income residents.
October 2021
Pandemic Stories
Exploring the experiences of Londoners who were disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, this PAR project looks at their experiences and their policy recommendations for a fairer future.
August 2021
“You don’t really know people till you talk to them”
A PAR project looking at the needs of older residents in Tower Hamlets, and co-designing ideas for how services for older
people can be more responsive, more relevant and strengthen the community.September 2018
Historical Archive
Throughout Toynbee Hall’s history we have had a long tradition of research stretching back to our founding in 1884. While we work on our historical archive, here is a selection of our past work:
Final Report of the Bethnal Green After-Care Experiment
This report, published in 1936, argues for an ‘aftercare’ programme for young people to be introduced that would supervise them for up to three years after they left school. The programme would provide advice on gaining employment, health care and profitably and effectively managing their spare time.
October 1936
Are Young People Heard? Out Thoughts about Young People and Politics
A report led by 12 young women from Tower Hamlets and Hackney looking ay how young people from low income areas, marginalised young women and minorities are excluded from politics.
November 2014
Savings for the Future: Solving the Puzzle for Low-income Households
A report published by the Toynbee Hall Financial Health Exchange which finds that low income households employ various informal financial savings techniques that help them to be more financially resilient.
March 2017
