Insight Gathering 2027: Voice, power and making data work for communities

The conference will explore two connected strands: Voice and Power.

Voice: strengthening qualitative research practices

When done well, qualitative research can give power back to communities and amplify people’s voices. But connecting people’s experiences to wider change can be difficult, particularly for small and stretched teams. This strand will explore:

• lessons from working collaboratively with people with lived experience of poverty
• the impact of AI and digital tools on qualitative research
• how to make participation positive, meaningful and well supported
• the value of qualitative evidence and how it can be used alongside other forms of evidence
• practical ways to apply these lessons in your own work.

Power: democratising access to data

Too often, data and evidence travel one way. They leave the people and places they describe, are interpreted, published and acted on by others, and rarely find their way back. This strand will explore how people and communities can access, control and use data to campaign, learn and make change. It will include:

• how communities can act, campaign and learn using data collected from or about them
• how co-design and participatory methods can help communities build a fuller picture of inequality
• success stories and challenges, including where movements have gained or lost out because of access to data
• practical ways to use data to support action and change.

The event is free to attend and speakers will receive a fee and have their travel expenses covered. Bursaries will also be available for people who would otherwise be unable to attend.

The conference is for people working across the social change sector, particularly:

• campaigners, activists and people working in movements for change
• people with lived experience of poverty
• people working on research and engagement in small charities and social change organisations
• qualitative and quantitative researchers
• people working to make data more accessible, democratic and useful to communities.

Our call for ideas asked for input on sessions, discussions and workshops for the conference, and ran from Monday 21 September to Monday 19 October 2026. It is now closed. If you'd like to get in touch about the conference or have any questions, email Giselle at giselle.cory@jrf.org.uk.