Abbey People is excited to announce a brand-new community research project, made possible with funding from the University of Cambridge Public Engagement team.
This project will be delivered in partnership with the Centre for the Study of Financial Insecurity (CSFI) at CRASSH, University of Cambridge. Together, we want to explore an important question: what helps people in Abbey thrive, and what gets in the way?
Why this matters
Abbey is a community with huge strengths, resilience, creativity, and neighbourliness. But it is also a place where many people face financial insecurity and barriers to opportunities. At Abbey People, we see these challenges every day through our Food Hub, youth clubs, and support services.
We believe the answers to these challenges lie in the voices and experiences of Abbey residents themselves. That’s why this project will put local people at the heart of the research.
Nicky Shepard, CEO of Abbey People had this to say about the project, “This is an exciting development for Abbey People and a big step forward in supporting the Thriving People strand of our new strategy. It also builds on the Untold Stories work we carried out with the University of Cambridge last year. We’re delighted to be working in partnership with a research centre of this calibre, and to bring the voices of Abbey residents into research that can shape real change.”
How the partnership works
The Centre for the Study of Financial Insecurity brings expertise in understanding how money worries and insecurity affect people’s lives across the UK. Abbey People brings our deep connections with local residents and our commitment to making Abbey a place where everyone can flourish.
By combining academic knowledge with lived experience, we will build a clearer picture of what change is needed – and how to make it happen.
Dr Niamh Mulcahy, Director of the Centre for the Study of Financial Insecurity commented, “Cambridge has a high cost of living, which makes it hard for many households to feel a sense of security or belonging in the city. Combining insights from research on economic inequality and insecurity in the UK with the experience of those who live here is important to developing the kind of policy strategies needed to target these problems at the local level.”
What’s happening
We will recruit and train a small team of Community Researchers (Peer Researchers) from Abbey. These researchers will co-design the study, carry out interviews and surveys, and work with us on the analysis. Stage 1 of the project will run from November 2025 to May 2026, with initial findings shared later in 2026. Our aim is for this work to then lead into multi-year research which can be shared more widely.
Get involved
We are looking for people with a connection to Abbey who would like to become Community Researchers. No experience is needed – just curiosity, commitment, and an interest in helping Abbey thrive. Training and support will be provided, and the role is paid for 20 hours of time.
If you’re interested, please contact us at admin@abbeypeople.org.uk.
Search Abbey People on social media to stay up to date as the project develops.
