We’re hiring people with experience of the housing system to participate in our community project.
Are you looking for a part time job that will fit around other work or your commitments at home?
Do you rent from a private landlord?
Do housing problems affect you and your community?
Do you want to learn about the root causes of these issues and be involved in thinking about what can be done to change them?
The London Renters Union is recruiting a team of Participant Co-researchers who will be employed and trained to lead on a radical film project to explore and take action on these issues. Co-researchers will be supported throughout the project and no previous experience of research or housing activism is needed to take part. For more information about the project and the role see the job description below.
What you’ll get out of it:
- A part time job paying you the London Living Wage
- Increased knowledge of the issues that affect you and your community
- Skills in creative film-making, as well as confidence speaking about your experiences
- Develop new networks, relationships and become part of a community
- The opportunity to make a positive contribution to society
You will need to be comfortable to explore what you know, think and feel, and willing to be challenged and questioned. If you think you’ve got what it takes to be a changemaker, then please get in touch or apply!
Call us on 07736763975 or email hackney@londonrentersunion.org to learn about the application process, and access support if you need it. The closing date for applications has now been extended to the end of Wednesday 24th April 2019.
Here’s all the information you need to know to apply for the job.
Role: Co-researcher
Payment: £10.55 per hour, London Living Wage
Project Objectives: The project aims to build a group of people who are passionate about taking action to demand change by increasing knowledge and understanding of the issues facing renters and Producing an informative film which could be used to raise awareness about private renting.
Requirements:
- Applicants must have a local Hackney connection (living, or used to live in Hackney, or next to the border)
- Applicants must be living in or have experience of the private rented sector, homelessness, or temporary accommodation.
- Applicants must be available to complete the full project and attend all sessions (most likely 5-9pm a regular weekday evening)
Paid Research Project Dates:
1st May – 30th August 2019 (16 weeks)
There may be opportunities to extend the contract beyond these dates. Successful candidates should be interested in participating in the project beyond this period.
Working Hours:
4 hours per week for 16 weeks
These will mainly involve facilitated group sessions, however you will have to work some self-organised hours conducting interviews with friends or family or filming at locations of your choice.
Application Process:
If you would like to apply, please start by calling or messaging the London Renters Union Hackney branch on 07736763975, or emailing hackney@londonrentersunion.org. We can explain the application process, and how we can support you in your application.
Final completed application forms should be sent to staffsupport@londonrentersunion.org before the end of Wednesday 24th April 2019.
Project Description:
Working with two facilitators, eight participants who are themselves experiencing issues as renters in London will produce a film. During the process they will be trained to gather interviews or oral histories of others in their community to enrich their understanding of the issues at hand, and think together about what action needs to be taken.
London Renters Union:
The London Renters Union (LRU) is a London-wide project to build a mass, member-led union that organises and builds solidarity between private renters across London. LRU is financially and administratively independent from government, and has the power to win the change we need. For more information about the London Renters Union, please visit londonrentersunion.org
Job Description:
- Participant Researchers will work as part of a team to design and carry out a research project through filmmaking around the theme of private rented housing. The role will involve:
- Learning and practicing research techniques, including filmmaking skills.
- With other co-researchers, taking responsibility for the research process and making it as good as it can be.
- Communicating with project Co-researchers and London Renters Union members in the local Hackney branch.
- Using joint decision-making to decide how we’ll do the research together, drawing on the skills and abilities everyone brings.
- Reflecting on the findings to find out what needs to change and ways to enact this change.
- Engaging friends, family and community members in the project through interviews and filmmaking.
- Attending the scheduled sessions and communicating to the facilitator any changes in your availability. Adhering to the London Renters Union Values in how you engage with others.
- With support from London Renters Union, being a spokesperson for the project.
- Helping to evaluate the project so that we can learn from it for future projects.
Person Specification:
Co-researchers will need to demonstrate that they meet the following criteria:
- Impacted by the housing system, with experience of the private rented sector.Commitment to teamwork and the collaborative process.
- Reliable and punctual and good at timekeeping.
- Excellent communication skills, able to say what you need and when.
- Open-minded, with an ability to think critically about yourself and the world around you, and also listen to and reflect on others’ experiences.
- A passion to create positive change.
- Willing to learn or are able to express ideas, thoughts and feelings through a variety of creative means (eg. talking, writing, art and design, music, film, social media).
- Holding respect for others, and committed to equality of opportunity for everyone, regardless of race, gender, age, ability, sexuality.
- Available for all the project sessions until August, and with a desire to turn the research findings into Action!
