The impact of research training in the community: “It’s not about permission, it’s about empowerment.”

Photo: Attendees of workshop 6, including Cath Robson, Weardale Together (centre) and Perry Gardener (right back)

In May and June 2025, the Rural Durham Community Research Network ran a series of six training sessions designed to support community organisations / VSCE organisations and residents / community members in rural Teesdale, Weardale and Derwent Valley to shape and lead their own research projects.

Each session focused on a different aspect of the research process - from exploring research questions and ethical principles, to data collection, analysis, and how to share findings in impactful ways. The workshops combined practical advice, open discussion, and real-life examples, helping participants shape their ideas into viable projects with long-term value.

We asked two training participants, Cath Robson, co-founder of Weardale Together, and Perry Gardner, a local resident, to tell us more about their experience.

What motivated you to take part in Rural Durham Community Research Networks workshops and training sessions?

“A lot of the methods I’ve seen the network use so far, I recognise as good practice. Focusing on communities and making a difference in the place I live matters to me. I haven’t done anything like this for a long time, but now we’re in 2025, I think talking to people to get new ideas is great. Sarah Banks, who delivered this Knowledge for Change Workshop, which I attended before the training, is inspirational, we’ve got to learn from these people.” – Perry Gardner, Local Weardale Resident

“The network feels like it aligns with what we want to achieve as an organisation, we’re always keen to network and collaborate, and we’ve seen the fruit of that over the last few years. At the very least, it seemed like an opportunity for connecting with others. Once I found out more about what was on offer it felt incredibly timely to work with the network to address our community challenges. I’ve felt in the past that when opportunities to engage in research have been over, it felt disappointing when nothing happened. It’s our chance to deliver the research and make changes.” – Cath Robson, Weardale Together

Why do you think community-led research is important for rural communities in County Durham?

“Previously, I got involved in a town project in North Yorkshire, which included research, but they found it hard to find out who needed help. For instance, they wouldn’t translate the questionnaire into other languages, as they didn’t feel there was a need. The research identified problems with young people. Through this evidence, we obtained funding and support to address the problems, but we didn’t have the capacity to make it work. External factors and influences were preventing us from changing things. I didn’t feel the project would make a difference after two years. This lesson made me realise why the network is so important; we must understand our communities. Rural areas are getting left behind, and little understanding of what their needs are.” - Perry Gardner, Local Weardale Resident.

“I believe that communities working together and pulling together is how we’re going to face future challenges. And to get there to handle these challenges, we must include everyone’s voice in the community. The top-down design doesn’t work. When people are involved in research and consulted, they feel invested and important; they are more likely to engage in the community. If the network can support good practice and bring together resources for communities to access and use, that can only be a good thing.” - Cath Robson, Weardale Together

Has the training changed the way you think about community-led research and the potential this has for rural communities in County Durham?

“Definitely, it has – obviously, I understood the importance and power of it, but the ‘how’ was beyond me. To know we’ve got the backing of Durham Community Action, universities, and partners, it feels supported and possible. Connecting the dots between the grassroots, local knowledge that our community has with wider studies; bridging the gap between that and local government and national policy is really important - Cath Robson, Weardale Together

“The training has changed a lot. For example, I’ve learnt you can’t transfer one experience from locality to another; they are different. I’ve also learnt it’s important to have your eyes on the prize, what it is that you want to achieve, what will inspire people. Talking to others in the training and hearing how they’ve made ideas come to reality has been inspirational.

I’ve learnt and unlearnt bad habits, and how to tailor to local areas. The people in the training can inspire you, and you have the opportunity to give each other advice and talk about what’s gone wrong.” - Perry Gardner, Local Weardale Resident

What’s the biggest thing you gained from taking part in the training?

“ It’s the sense of possibility, and everything that means, the opportunities to gather compelling evidence and stories, views and voices of communities, but also the potential for influence that the network presents – It’s not about permission, it’s about empowerment” - Cath Robson, Weardale Together.

“Feeling like communities should just go for it! Feeling like there’s no excuse and we can try.” - Perry Gardner, Local Weardale Resident

What are your hopes for the network in the future?

“I’m really excited to see the outcomes of everyone’s else project and what we do next, and hopefully to learn from each other as we go forward and keep that as an ongoing thing. Just to see how people build on the connections we’ve made and the information we’ve got from it”. – Cath Robson, Weardale Together

“In 5 years’ time, I would like to see young people coming to Wolsingham in Weardale to start a business. I would like to see a change in the people who have the responsibility and the ability to recognize a need for change. I would like to see others realise that if you want to make a change, then there is a support network that can get you through it. I would like to see natural leaders within communities develop as a result of the network and make a difference, no matter how small. Finally, I would like the network to self-organise and empower communities to do it themselves.” - Perry Gardner, Local Weardale Resident

What’s next?

The training sessions are just the beginning. The Rural Durham Community Research Network will continue to support community researchers through mentoring and events. Our aim is to create opportunities for community-led research to be recognised and valued as a vital form of evidence for decision-making.

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