The Community Researcher supports Tameside, Oldham, Glossop & Stockport Mind Development Team by gathering insights from local people, communities, and partners to inform funding bids, shape services, and identify mental health needs, gaps, and effective approaches across diverse groups.
What difference will you make?
Volunteers in the Community Researcher role will play a vital part in shaping the future of TOGS Mind and the communities we support. Their contribution goes far beyond gathering information—it directly influences how we understand need, design services, and secure the resources required to make a meaningful difference.
By engaging with local people, groups, and organisations, volunteers help ensure that real voices and lived experiences are at the heart of everything we do. The insights they gather allow us to better understand the mental health and wellbeing challenges faced across different communities, including those who are often under‑represented or less likely to access support.
This work has a direct and measurable impact on our ability to secure funding. Strong, evidence‑based research strengthens our funding applications by clearly demonstrating need, highlighting gaps in provision, and showing demand for services. The time and effort volunteers dedicate to conversations, surveys, and community engagement directly contributes to bringing new resources, programmes, and opportunities into the communities we serve.
Volunteers will also help us identify what is already working well, allowing TOGS Mind to build on effective approaches and replicate success in other areas. At the same time, their research helps highlight barriers and unmet needs, ensuring that future services are more inclusive, accessible, and responsive.
Importantly, this role contributes to creating a stronger sense of community voice and ownership. When people feel listened to, their experiences valued, and their input reflected in real change, trust and engagement grow. Volunteers act as a bridge between TOGS Mind and the communities we support, strengthening relationships and encouraging wider participation.
For the organisation, the impact is clear: better evidence leads to better decisions, stronger funding bids, and more effective services. For the community, the impact is even greater—services that are shaped around real needs, improved access to support, and ultimately better mental health and wellbeing outcomes.
For volunteers themselves, the impact is deeply rewarding. They will see how their work translates into tangible changes, from new services being developed to existing support being improved. They will know that their contribution is helping to create opportunities, reduce inequalities, and improve lives.
What are we looking for?
We are looking for enthusiastic, community‑minded individuals who are passionate about making a positive difference in mental health and wellbeing. The Community Researcher role is ideal for someone who is naturally curious, enjoys speaking to people, and values the importance of listening to real experiences to help shape meaningful change.
Our ideal volunteer is approachable, empathetic, and able to build rapport with people from a wide range of backgrounds. They understand the importance of creating a safe, respectful space where individuals feel comfortable sharing their views, experiences, and challenges. This role is not about being an expert—it is about being a good listener, asking thoughtful questions, and representing the voices of the community in an honest and meaningful way.
At TOGS Mind, we place strong value on inclusion and diversity, so we are particularly keen to involve volunteers who can help us engage with under‑represented groups and ensure that a wide range of perspectives are captured.
Key Skills and Experience
- Strong communication and listening skills – able to engage people in conversation, ask open questions, and listen actively and respectfully
- Empathy and approachability – able to connect with individuals from different backgrounds and make them feel heard and valued
- Interest in mental health and wellbeing – a genuine desire to improve outcomes for individuals and communities
- Reliability and organisation – able to follow through on commitments and accurately record information
- Open‑mindedness and non‑judgement – able to respect differing experiences, opinions, and cultural perspectives
Experience
- Previous experience in volunteering, community work, or engagement activities
- Confidence using basic digital tools such as email, online surveys, or note‑taking systems
- Awareness of local community issues or services
- Experience supporting research, gathering feedback, or facilitating group discussions
Our Approach
We recognise that volunteers come from a wide range of backgrounds and may not have formal research experience. For this reason, we prioritise attitude, commitment, and willingness to learn over specific qualifications. We will provide guidance and support to help volunteers feel confident in their role.
Final Thought
This role is about people first. If you enjoy listening, value different perspectives, and want to play a part in shaping better mental health support, you will be a great fit. Your contribution will help ensure that TOGS Mind’s work is grounded in real experiences, leading to more effective services and stronger outcomes for the communities we serve.
Hybrid
What will you be doing?
Key Responsibilities
The primary responsibility of the Community Researcher is to engage directly with local people, community groups, and partner organisations to explore mental health and wellbeing needs across a range of demographics. This includes individuals from diverse backgrounds, ensuring that under‑represented voices are actively included.
The role involves designing and carrying out research using a variety of approaches, such as surveys, focus groups, one‑to‑one conversations, and community engagement activities. Through this work, the researcher will identify key themes, including gaps in provision, barriers to accessing support, and examples of services or approaches that are working effectively.
A further responsibility is to ensure that all research is carried out ethically and professionally. This includes maintaining confidentiality, recording information accurately, and adhering to data protection standards. The researcher is also expected to build positive relationships within the community, acting as a trusted and approachable representative of TOGS Mind.
Close collaboration with the Development Team is essential. The researcher will align their work to current funding priorities, ensuring that the insights gathered are relevant, timely, and directly support organisational objectives.
Key Deliverables
The main outputs of the role include clear and concise research summaries that capture key findings and themes. These reports should be accessible and usable for a variety of purposes, particularly funding bids and service development.
The researcher will also produce evidence that demonstrates community need and demand, including qualitative insights, case studies, and where appropriate, supporting data. This evidence will strengthen funding applications by clearly articulating why services are needed and how they will benefit the community.
Additional deliverables include thematic analysis identifying trends, gaps in provision, and opportunities for development, as well as accurate records of all engagement and research activity undertaken.
Team and Organisational Context
This role sits within the TOGS Mind Development Team, which is responsible for income generation, and developing local partnership opportunities. The team works collaboratively to design responsive, evidence‑based provision that meets the needs of local communities.
The Community Researcher contributes by providing the essential evidence base that underpins this work. Their insights directly inform funding applications, influence service design, and support long‑term planning.
Key Priorities
Key priorities for the role include capturing authentic community voice, ensuring research is inclusive and representative, and producing high‑quality evidence of need.
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