Too often in the past research in the youth sector has traditionally been done on young people, treating them as subjects to be studied.
However, a growing consensus, across a range of sectors, recognises that young people are often the best-placed experts to investigate the issues affecting their lives
This new toolkit, produced by Partnership for Young London and funded by Trust for London, provides a step-by-step guide to peer research.
What is inside the toolkit?
This document acts as a step-by-step delivery manual, guiding practitioners through the entire lifecycle of a peer research project. It covers:
- Foundations & Ethics: Defining "lived experience" and "peers," and establishing the ethical baseline for youth-led inquiry.
- Operational Readiness: Practical guidance on budgeting (including fair remuneration models), staffing roles, and organisational capacity.
- The "Scope Triangle": A framework to help organisations balance Ambition, Feasibility, and Influence to ensure projects are realistic and impactful.
- Recruitment & Training: How to recruit diverse cohorts beyond the "usual suspects" and a full curriculum for training young people in qualitative, quantitative, and creative research methods.
- Fieldwork & Analysis: Managing safeguarding in the field and supporting young people to lead the "sense-making" process, ensuring adult bias does not override youth voice.
- Impact & Legacy: Strategies for turning research findings into policy change, social action, and lasting organisational transformation.