Insight Infrastructure conference 2027
JRF’s Insight Infrastructure programme is hosting a two-day conference exploring how people and communities can shape, own and act on the evidence about their lives.
Call for ideas
We’re looking for ideas for sessions, discussions and workshops that explore how people and communities can have more power over research, data and evidence.
You don’t need to be able to run a session yourself to suggest an idea. Sessions can take any format, from a short talk or full workshop to an invite-only roundtable.
Who can suggest an idea?
We particularly welcome ideas from:
- 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
- specialists in qualitative and quantitative research, and data democratisation.
Deadline: 5pm on Monday 19 October 2026.
We’ll review all ideas and get back to you by mid-November. If you have any questions email Giselle at giselle.cory@jrf.org.uk.
About the event
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.
Who is this event for?
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.
This event is part of the power and participation topic.
Find out more about our work in this area.