From 2023 – 2024 we co-led on developing a Community Research Network to support and develop community-led knowledge production across Leeds. In 2023, with Leeds Love It Share It, We Are Seacroft, and Otley 2030, we were successful in a bid to UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) to develop 2 community research pilots in Seacroft and Otley, and to develop a Leeds network to bid for Phase 2 funding (£1m over 5 years). Despite our Phase 2 bid not being successful, we are continuing to work alongside our partners to realise our ambition to democratise knowledge production in the city, by enabling communities, academics, and policy makers to learn with and from each other. The project team on this work included Alice Wallace, Sue Balcomb, Mike Love & Irena Bauman alongside our partner organisations at the Leeds Community Anchor Network, Leeds Refugee Forum, Leeds Green Activities Providers, West Yorks Racial Justice Network, LeedsACTS!, and the University of Leeds.
