PETERBOROUGH’S FIRST GRASSROOTS

COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL RESEARCH CONFERENCE

We Listened To What Is Happening In Peterborough!

22 June 2023 – Peterborough, UK

ISLAH (Institute for Social Policy, Leadership and Advancement of Humanity) and UCP (University Centre

Peterborough) hosted their first Community and Social Research in Peterborough Conference on June 15th, 2023, at

the UCP Campus.

The purpose of the research conference was to gain an insight into current research/activities undertaken in

Peterborough by academic researchers, community and voluntary organisations, not-for-profit organisations, as well as

individual academic researchers and community-based project leads.

The aim of the research conference was to provide a platform for local researchers and project leads to share their

research outcomes; to understand how research impacts communities and organisations in Peterborough and to explore

how research can shape the future of Peterborough, its organisations, and communities.

The one-day ISLAH/UCP conference featured keynote speakers Professor Ben Rogaly, Professor of Human

Geography at the Sussex Centre for Migration Research, much of Ben’s research activity focusses on the city of

Peterborough. We also welcomed Professor Sir Les Ebdon, former Director of Fair Access to Higher Education and

now advisor to the Department and Trade and Industry and UCP Chair of Governors.

The event showcased 21 presentations across a broad range of topic areas, from education, social inequalities, places

and spaces, targeted delivery, collaboration and networks, cultural voices and community research. Each presentation

was packed full of information with real-life implications.

The event was SOLD OUT with a waiting list. The buzz and excitement of the day indicative that Peterborough is

ready and waiting for its voice to be included in shaping its future.

‘I went to quite an amazing conference yesterday hosted by ISLAH and University Centre Peterborough. The topic

was Community and Social Research. The event covered everything from small scale research at an individual level to

PhD in depth studies. The contexts of the presentations were varied from charities (iCARE, Citizens Advice

Peterborough) through to individuals presenting research on different aspects of community. A really positive,

educational and uplifting event…… working towards enhancing life in Peterborough through the dissemination of

knowledge and understanding. The whole event also ran like clockwork which was no easy feat!! Thank You!’ (Elaine

Parkin, conference attendee).

We will be disseminating the findings from this conference to support the growth and development of grassroots

communities and organisations.

For all media enquiries please contact: islahresearchinstitute@gmail.com

ISLAH, Institute for Social Policy, Leadership and Advancement of Humanity, is an independent research institute, established in 2022, to

research local issues pertaining to the Muslim and wider communities of Peterborough, United Kingdom. They work to raise the visibility of

grassroots voices, facilitate education and community partnership to learn and grow inclusively, empower communities to interact and use data

and research findings effectively. More detail about their work could be found at www.islah.uk.