A Groundbreaking PhD Opportunity: Evaluating Community-Led Research on the Isles of Scilly and Across the UK

Island life... a playground on your doorstep

We’re excited to announce a significant new opportunity that puts the Isles of Scilly, and the wider community research movement, at the centre of an important national conversation about how we create, use, and value knowledge.

The University of Exeter, in partnership with the Isles of Scilly Community Research Network (CRN), is offering a fully funded PhD as part of a UKRI-funded programme led by The Young Foundation. This programme is pioneering a new way of doing research; one that places communities not just at the heart of the enquiry, but in the driving seat.

A Different Kind of Research, and a Different Kind of Evaluation

Traditionally, when large research or innovation grants are awarded, an external evaluator is brought in to assess the delivery and effectiveness of the programme. These evaluations are often conducted at arm’s length, with findings reported back to funders and policymakers after the fact.

But this PhD takes a radically different approach. Instead of hiring an outside evaluator, UKRI and The Young Foundation have chosen to embed the evaluation within the programme itself, placing a PhD researcher within the Isles of Scilly CRN to study, understand, and assess the impact of the work as it unfolds.

This researcher won’t be a distant observer, they’ll be a close collaborator. They will work alongside CRN members, community partners, and residents to evaluate how well the network is delivering on the aims of the grant: building local research capacity, shifting power, creating actionable insights, and generating lasting community benefits.

Importantly, the PhD will also look beyond the Isles of Scilly. It will compare what’s happening here with eight other CRN sites across the UK, each working in different geographical, cultural, and social contexts. And it will contribute to a broader evaluation of the CRN model itself - asking big-picture questions about what it means to do research with communities, not to them.

Why This Matters for the Isles of Scilly

The Isles of Scilly Community Research Network was formed to ensure that research here is locally led, rooted in island realities, and designed to benefit the community utilising their passion and local knowledge. Whether exploring issues like housing, environment, heritage, health, or local economy, the aim is to support residents to ask the questions that matter most to them - and to take action on the answers.

For an island community with unique challenges and opportunities, this model holds real promise. But it also comes with important questions: How well is the CRN working in practice? Which forms of support are most effective? What barriers exist? And how does an island-based CRN compare to those on the mainland?

The PhD will provide a structured, in-depth evaluation of these questions - helping us better understand what’s working, what needs refining, and how this model can evolve to support lasting, positive change.

A National Learning Opportunity

By comparing across all nine CRNs involved in the national CRN programme, the PhD will generate valuable insights into the scalability and adaptability of the community-led model. It will help funders, policymakers, and community leaders understand where community-led research thrives, what conditions support it, and how we can better support participatory approaches in future programmes.

This is a rare opportunity to contribute to a growing movement that is fundamentally rethinking who holds knowledge, how it’s created, and what it’s for. And it's a chance to do so while working within one of the UK’s most distinctive and tightly knit communities.

Could This Be You, or Someone You Know?

This is not a standard academic post. It’s a highly engaged, practice-based research role for someone who wants to combine rigorous enquiry with real-world impact. The ideal candidate will be curious, reflective, and passionate about equity, participation, and social change.

If you (or someone you know) are interested in shaping the future of community-led research, now’s the time to get involved.

📌 Applications are open now via the University of Exeter.
Find full details and apply on their website, and please share this opportunity with anyone who might be interested.

(Closing date: 25th June 2025)

Together, we’re helping shape a new kind of research - one that starts with community, centres local voices, and builds knowledge from the ground up.