About Us & CSJCA - Participatory Research Innovation and Learning Labs

Image from Developing Community and University Research Partnerships ‘speed-dating event’ supporting collaborations between community groups and Durham University academics and postgraduate researchers in May 2013.

The Participatory Research Innovation and Learning Labs (PRILL) project is part of Durham University’s Centre for Social Justice and Community Action (CSJCA). PRILL project was led by a diverse team of university and community researchers who offered a range of expertise, experience and knowledge, and shared passion and commitment to participatory research processes that focus on working with communities.

CSJCA is a multidisciplinary research centre that promotes and develops research, teaching, public/community engagement and staff development (both within and outside the university) around the broad theme of social justice in local and international settings, with a specific focus on participatory action research.

The Centre has an international reputation for its contribution to innovative approaches to thinking about the ethics and methodology of participatory action research (PAR). Over the years, the Centre has produced various ethical guidelines, toolkits and case studies that have been used worldwide and in different research contexts. The Centre’s annual training course for doctoral researchers and community organisations provides opportunities for training, capacity-building and networking.

Members of the Centre are involved in a range of innovative projects committed to participatory ways of working with communities, ranging from researching the guide association as a sustainable youth organisation in the UK, through grassroots pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, to rethinking bidi (leaf cigarette) rolling as a livelihood in Vellore, South India.

Stay in touch with the Centre’s latest news, training opportunities, and events here.