Meet Newham's Citizen Scientists

What happens when residents are given the opportunity to research the issues affecting their own communities?

Across Newham, residents are doing exactly that through the Citizen Scientist training programme – developing research skills, exploring local issues and helping bring lived experience into conversations that matter.

Celebrating our second cohort

Our second cohort of Citizen Scientists has now completed the programme, with women from Newham's Marginalised Women Network celebrating their graduation on 30 September 2026.

The cohort brings together women from a range of backgrounds and lived experiences, creating opportunities for voices that can be underrepresented in traditional research to explore issues affecting women and communities in Newham.

Throughout the programme, participants have developed practical skills in research, interviewing, storytelling and community engagement. They have used their experiences and connections with local communities to undertake their own research and explore issues that matter to them.

The cohort marked the completion of the programme with a graduation and research exhibition, providing an opportunity to showcase their findings, share what they have learned and celebrate their achievements.

Meet our second cohort of Citizen Scientists:

Watch: Meet Loubna
Watch: Meet Nadina
Watch: Meet Carollyn

Hear directly from some of the women about their experiences, their research and what being a Citizen Scientist has meant to them.

Research shaped by lived experience

The Citizen Scientist programme brings together residents from different communities across Newham, supporting them to use research, storytelling and lived experience to explore issues that matter to them.

Participants identify topics they want to understand better and carry out their own research projects, speaking directly with residents and drawing on lived experience to explore local challenges and opportunities.

The first cohort of Citizen Scientists completed a UCL-accredited programme, researching topics including employment, education, parenting, mental health, loneliness and access to services. Participants were compensated for their time and contribution while completing the programme and carrying out their research.

Their projects explored a wide range of issues, from the experiences of migrant mothers raising children between cultures and the employability journeys of Afghan migrants, to loneliness among young migrants and the experiences of international students adapting to life in the UK.

Watch: Meet some of Newham's Citizen Scientists

Hear directly from participants and discover how community-led research is helping residents explore issues affecting their communities.

The programme works with different communities across Newham, including:

the Migrant and Refugee Network
the Young Adult and SEND Network
the Marginalised Women Network

Creating opportunities for residents

Alongside developing research skills, the programme creates opportunities for residents to build confidence, connect with others and contribute to positive change in their communities.

For many participants, it has provided a platform to share experiences, explore issues affecting local people and help ensure community voices are heard.

As part of the programme, Citizen Scientists can also apply for six-month paid placements at Newham Council, giving them an opportunity to apply the expertise and skills gained through the UCL course to Council work. The first Citizen Scientist has already been appointed through the scheme.

Explore the research

Our first cohort explored a range of topics affecting migrant and refugee communities across Newham, from employment and parenting to loneliness and student life.

What's next?

The work of our Citizen Scientists continues beyond graduation.

Research from our first cohort will be brought together through Stories from the Newham Community Research Network, while we will continue to share the research, experiences and achievements of our second cohort.

From participant stories and community research projects to placements and programme milestones, follow the journey of Newham residents using research and lived experience to help shape conversations about the issues that matter to their communities.