Runnymede & Spelthorne Citizens Advice Bureau are currently recruiting volunteer researchers for the Housing Stability Project. Not only will volunteers develop their research skills and gain experience, they will also be introduced to Housing law, theory and practice. Housing Stability researchers will use a range of research methods to investigate the challenges to housing stability for students. The project is also interested in community relations where students are living in residential private accommodation.

Once the research has been conducted (report stage autumn 2020), the project will report on its findings and provide recommendations to improve housing stability to local councillors and stakeholders. Volunteer researchers are vital to establish the recommendations and this will enable Citizens Advice to provide community leadership in the implementation of those recommendations.

Runnymede & Spelthorne Citizens Advice does not currently recruit students to train as advisers so this is an opportunity for volunteers to gain exposure to the organisation and access training materials that advisers use, specifically in relation to Housing law. Most of the training will be through self-guided study and volunteers will have the opportunity to discuss issues with the project manager either remotely or by appointment.

Once Housing Stability researchers have successfully completed their term of volunteering (typically 6 – 12 months), depending on their level of engagement, they will be able to apply for other voluntary positions in the organisation that are vacant at the time.

This is a great opportunity to help make a difference in your local community and to gain transferable skills for a career in law or the public and non-profit sectors. If this is of interest to you, please get in touch by emailing CommunityResearchHub@royalholloway.ac.uk.