Build experience and gain skills that will last a lifetime with our voluntary Research 100 programme.
We’re passionate about investing in our volunteers and members of our Research 100 programme will benefit from 1:1 mentoring, helping us towards our mission of ending social isolation and loneliness for people aged 75 and over.
Applications for our Winter 2024 intake are now closed.
What positions does this Research 100 programme offer?
Our 12-month programme is hosted by our impact team, however programme participants will have the opportunity to connect and work with a range of Re-engage departments. The Research 100 programme is fully remote and accommodates flexible working. The programme requires students to complete 100 hours of voluntary activities across a 12-month period. These hours can fit around your existing commitments and can include evenings and weekends.
The user researcher activities provide you with invaluable insights and the opportunity to develop skills in a supportive environment. Our programme placements work on a variety of projects, from conducting user researcher calls to user research input.
What this role involves
As a Research 100 volunteer you’ll support our evaluation work by speaking to older people and other volunteers over the telephone, conducting questionnaires and interviews to help us understand the impact of our services.
Conducting surveys and interviews
Evaluation and wellbeing surveys – in these calls you’ll be asking older people about their experience of Re-engage, as well as about their general wellbeing, feelings, and relationships.
Advisory group calls – Re-engage has an older people’s advisory group with around 50 members and consults with them four times a year. We send members information on each consultation topic before you call to ask for their opinions and feedback. Previous topics have included:
- cost of living
- climate change
- smartphones and ageism
- Re-engage services.
Ad hoc surveys and interviews – we conduct various projects throughout the year; on these calls you could be asking people about a range of topics.
Data entry
We’ll occasionally send our older people surveys to complete on paper. These can then be scanned and shared with you in PDF format, for you to enter online ready for analysis.
Work experience
If desired, as part of the programme you may be given the opportunity to complete work experience within the charity. This could be within one of the following teams:
- communications and marketing
- service delivery
- engagement
- fundraising
Who can apply?
Our programme is open to anyone aged 18 and over.
When can I apply?
The 12-month programme runs on a rolling basis, with intakes three times a year in October, February, and June.
What happens at the end of the programme?
At the end of your programme, you will receive a Research 100 certificate and (if needed) a reference from Re-engage. You will also be encouraged to apply for any permanent positions if suitable ones are available and/or to become a permanent member of our impact volunteers' team.
What skills and experiences does the Research 100 programme offer?
Meet some of our members
Daniella
My name is Daniella, and I am a student at Goldsmiths University of London studying forensic psychology. My favourite module is neurodiversity, neurodevelopment and education, as I am passionate about learning the experiences of autistic individuals and how we can support them in society, particularly focusing on women who often go undiagnosed until later in life. Outside of university, I love to attend music gigs, particularly heavy metal, and I crochet I decided to join the research program with Re-engage as I love conducting research and conducting analysis on questionnaires. Through Research 100 I hope to develop my communication skills and gain real-life experience in conducting surveys, further enhancing my research skills.
Harriet
I’m Harriet and I’m currently in my final year studying sociology and psychology at the University of Edinburgh and I’m very much enjoying what time I have left at university. Outside of university, I work part-time in a tearoom and in my spare time, my friends and I enjoy hosting dinner parties and movie nights. I initially found the Research 100 programme on my university website as, over the summer holidays, I had started to think about my future and look into relevant experience. Currently my goal is to become a clinical psychologist or therapist and I thought Re-engage provided an excellent opportunity in their research and community outreach programmes.
Sophie
My name is Sophie, and I am currently studying Foundations of Clinical Psychology and Mental Health MSc at the University of Sussex. Outside of studying, I enjoy local concerts, travelling around the UK, and reading.
I joined the Research 100 program as it stood out amongst other opportunities in the goal towards reducing social isolation and loneliness for older individuals. So far, I've thoroughly enjoyed being able to call people to gain their feedback for Christmas Call Companions, and their thoughts on a particular topic, and most recently case studies. The Research 100 has been an opportunity to engage in reflection, and work towards learning new skills for a future career in the psychological health sector.