The Newham Community Research Network and the UCL Citizen Science Academy are giving local migrants the chance to develop their skills as researchers in the local community.
Newham Community Research Network
The Newham Community Research Network (CRN) continues to grow, with the graduation of our marginalised women’s cohort and the start of our young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) cohort.
Led by Compost London, working with community organisations, Newham Council and the UCL Citizen Science Academy at UCL’s Institute for Global Prosperity, the network supports residents to research the issues that matter to their communities. It is funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) through The Young Foundation.
Celebrating our marginalised women’s cohort
Congratulations to the Citizen Social Scientists from our marginalised women’s network who have completed their training and graduated. They follow our first cohort of eleven researchers from migrant and refugee communities.
The women’s network, known as C.R.O.W.N. — Collaborative Research & Outreach for Women in Newham — is led by the East London Black Women’s Organisation (ELBWO). It brings together local organisations working to ensure that women’s experiences are heard and reflected in services and decisions.
Through their training and research, participants have brought their lived experience together with new research skills. Their reports, creative outputs and personal reflections are now being shared through the Newham CRN website.
Welcoming young people with SEND
Our third cohort is now starting, creating opportunities for young people with SEND to become Citizen Social Scientists.
Participants will be supported to develop research skills, explore questions that matter to them and share their perspectives. Their involvement is an important step towards making research more accessible and ensuring young people with SEND have a stronger voice in decisions affecting their lives.
Our stories, our research… changing Newham
On 3 November 2026, we brought together residents, community organisations, academics and council partners at Old Stratford Town Hall, Broadway, London, to celebrate the Newham Community Research Network.
Near to 100 visitors joined us to hear from our Citizen Social Scientists, explore their findings and learn about the communities behind the research. Researchers shared their work in their own ways, showing how lived experience can bring fresh understanding to local issues.
Through workshops and conversations, we explored how to build stronger networks and move from research to analysis, action and policy change. It was an opportunity to recognise the achievements of our first two cohorts and look ahead to the next stage of the network.
From research to action
At Compost London, our role is to connect community organisations, residents and research partners, building lasting relationships and supporting communities to use their findings to influence change.
Visit www.newhamcrn.org.uk to explore the networks, read researchers’ stories and discover their work.
To discuss research opportunities or get involved, contact marilyn@compostlondon.org.uk.
Find out more
Downloads:
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Theory of Change - An Introduction 24th June 2026
Theory of Change is one of those tools everyone’s heard of, plenty claim to use, but few use well. This practical session cuts through the waffle and focuses on how to build a clear, funder-ready Theory of Change that actually reflects how your work creates change. Jenny will guide participants through: What a Theory of Change really is (and what it isn’t) How to move from activities to outcomes without guesswork Common mistakes that trip organisations up (and how to avoid them) Using Theory of Change to strengthen funding bids, strategy and evaluation
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Creating strong funding applications
how to describe your project and the changes you are aiming to achieve for your clients; finding and matching your project to a funder’s priorities; planning and reporting on your project activities and achievements; developing your project budget; and a quick checklist of the do’s and don’ts of writing a strong application.
Migrant and Refugees Citizen Social Scientists Research Ideas presentation
Research ideas from the Migrants and Refugees Network, part of the Newham Community Research Network. Citizen Social Scientists are supported by the UCL Citizen Science Academy, giving local migrants the chance to develop their skills as researchers in the local community. Read to find out more about their ideas. Please contact us if this is an area of interest, or you wish to work with our Citizen Social Scientists on your research project.
Newham CRN: Talking about men's mental Health
Listen to our Newham Community Research Network's first podcast from East London Citizen Social Scientists Terry and Esah!
Reimagining Evaluation: A guide to doing evaluation differently
Reimagining Evaluation is a practical guide for anyone who wants to approach evaluation in an inclusive and meaningful way. The guide offers easy-to-use tools that you can apply straight away.
Video introduction to the Well Newham Evaluation Toolkit
Please download our introduction video to the Well Newham Evaluation Toolkit. The Well Newham Evaluation Toolkit empowers local groups to showcase the difference they make and strengthens the case for future funding. Explore the toolkit today and start building stronger, evidence-driven projects for Newham’s communities.
Well Newham Evaluation Toolkit
Compost London is proud to present the Well Newham Evaluation Toolkit, a practical resource designed to support community organisations in Newham to measure and understand the impact of their work. Developed by Compost London, this toolkit offers user-friendly tools and guidance to help organisations evaluate their projects, improve services, and demonstrate their impact to funders and stakeholders. Whether you’re running health and wellbeing initiatives, community events, or local support services, the toolkit makes it easier to track outcomes and capture meaningful feedback. Explore the toolkit today and start building stronger, evidence-driven projects for Newham’s communities.
