HDRC Community Organisation Advisory Partnership
About this opportunity
The opportunity:
Somerset HDRC is looking for people who work or volunteer with community organisations across Somerset to join our new Community Organisation Advisory Partnership (COAP).
This is an opportunity to help shape local research, services and communications by sharing the knowledge and experience of your community.
Why now, and why Somerset?:
Somerset HDRC works within Somerset Council to improve community-centred, lived-experience led research and evaluation of services. Following the Breaking Barriers project, we are increasingly getting requests from council teams about the best ways of engaging community groups, and we want the work we do to be community-led. The HDRC COAP will enable VCFSE groups working within Somerset to help shape local research, services and communications by sharing the knowledge and experience of your community.
What we hope to learn, understand, or achieve:
We are looking to further embed the voice of community organisations within the work of both the HDRC and the wider Somerset Council through partnership
Ways to get involved:
What organisations might gain from being involved:
✅ Build connections with council teams and other community organisations
✅ Access free training, networking and development opportunities
✅ Reward and recognition to be discussed ahead of the COAP beginning
Introduction to the project lead
Name:
Thomas Evans
Organisation:
HDRC Somerset
Research Assistant within the Somerset HDRC’s Community Participation team, looking to embed lived experience and community voice in the work of Somerset Council
What involvement might look like
What we are asking organisations to do:
This role will be co-developed throughout, though initially we expect groups to
✅Help shape local research projects
✅ Review and help shape council work
✅ Make communications more accessible and inclusive
How much time is likely to be involved:
Around one hour every 2-3 months – online
How we are making it easy to be involved:
– Meetings will be online.
– If a COAP member is unable to attend, they can send a representative from their organisation.
– There’s no expectation for members to attend every meeting.
– The group will work together to find the best day and time for future meetings.
What can be shaped and what is fixed:
This is an advisory partnership working within Somerset HDRC but working with a range of Somerset Council services. The role will be co-developed throughout, and will be open to change
Delivery timeframes:
We will discuss as a team when the partnership will meet, but we expect this to be around one hour every 2-3 months – online