Community Researchers Project
The London Historic Buildings Trust is running a Community Researchers project over the summer of 2025. The aim is to provide opportunities for people interested in London’s heritage to gain experience and training in the field of heritage and research. Successful applicants will be paid to carry out their own project on a subject in London of their choosing and to receive training in archival research. You do not need to have prior experience or a professional background in this area, just enthusiasm!
This programme is generously funded by Historic England.
Applications are to be submitted by 5pm on 8th June 2025 to heloise.palin@londonhistoricbuildings.org.uk
What:
- An opportunity to be paid to carry out a research project on an aspect of London’s heritage that interests you. This can be a building, a place, person or event in the past.
- You will be paid 35 hours at the London Living Wage (£13.85 per hour).
- The project is over the summer of 2025 and must be completed by 29 August 2025
- There will be 1 on-site training day (unpaid) at the London Archives and an historic building in Spitalfields on 9 July 2025.
- You will be mentored through the project to provide you with advice and support.
- You will learn new skills in research and heritage.
- Your project will need to deliver an output so that we can share evidence of it with our funders and online followers. If a text and image-based report is not ideal for you we discuss other forms of output. We ask each successful candidate to compose three social media posts for the London Historic Buildings Trust’s social media channels on your project.
Who:
- You have to be over 18 and available for training on site in London on 9 July 2025. You will need to be able to commit at least 35 hours of work on your project over July and August.
- You will need access to a computer and wifi.
- You will need to be able to get to the London Archives in Clerkenwell and Spitalfields as well as any additional archives or research centres you want to visit.
- You need to be based in London and have an idea for a subject for your research project that you have not worked on before.
- You need enthusiasm for your research idea.
- You will need to have good written and spoken English.
- You will need to submit an invoice(s) for your work on the project in order for us to pay you.
When:
The programme will run over the summer of 2025 and end at the end of August.
Key dates:
8th June 2025 – Applications should be submitted by this date. Shortlisted candidates will be selected for an informal interview the following week.
25th June 2025 – An online introduction to the programme will take place.
9th July 2025 – Meet at 19 Princelet Street for tour of the house and synagogue, travel to London Archives for 3 hour visit then an hour of training on research techniques.
All mentoring sessions will take place online in the second half of July and August.
29th August 2025 – Projects to be completed and submitted.
How to apply:
Please send a brief covering letter that answers the following questions to heloise.palin@londonhistoricbuildings.org.uk by 5pm on 8th June:
- Why would you like to take part in the Community Researchers programme?
- Do you have an idea of what you would like to research? Please tell us about up to 2 potential ideas.
- Are you able to commit to training day in central London on the 9th July and 35 hours of project work over July and August this year?
- How will you manage your time during the project?
- What do you hope to get out of the project?
- Is there anything else you would like to tell us about yourself?
Please include in the letter your:
- Name
- Address
- Email address
