In February 2024, Youth Music launched a new fund called the Energiser Early Years Fund to explore, celebrate, and energise creative practice with 2 to 4 year-olds. The Fund also involves Learning Partner Groundswell Arts, who will work with the community of Funded Partners to research and reflect on their work.
We are looking for a Research Assistant to work with the Groundswell Team, and particularly the lead researcher Jennifer Raven, to support the research process for the 3-year duration of the Energiser Fund.
Full description
Introduction to Youth Music Energiser Fund and Groundswell as Learning Partner
In February 2024, Youth Music launched a new fund called the Energiser Early Years Fund to explore, celebrate, and energise creative practice with 2 to 4 year-olds.
Between 2024 and 2027, the Energiser Fund is supporting each of 11 organisations with a 3-year grant worth up to £120,000. Centring children’s voices, views and lived experience, the fund will explore co-design and participation in creative projects with 2 to 4s. Ultimately, Youth Music wants to bring about change when it comes to creativity in the early years, to generate excitement, greater understanding and more equity for an age group that’s often marginalised and underestimated.
The organisations involved are a mix of arts organisations, venues, early years settings and other partners from different areas of England. You can find more about them here.
Intertwined throughout the three years will be a learning community, bringing organisations together to network, learn and reflect. As Energiser Fund Learning Partner, London based arts charity Groundswell Arts will lead this exciting learning community over the three-year programme to share best practices, insights, and successes. Working alongside Youth Music, Groundswell’s role includes facilitating monthly reflection sessions, running twice yearly learning community events, providing mentoring, delivering online training sessions, and undertaking research in response to an enquiry question. They will also advocate for young children’s voices, creativity, and rights to be front and centre with policymakers and the Early Years sector.
Introduction to the role
We are looking for a Research Assistant to work with the Groundswell Team, and particularly the lead researcher Jennifer Raven, to support the research process for the 3-year duration of the Energiser Fund.
The main purpose of the Research Assistant role is to support someone in the early stages of their career to gain hands-on experience of early years research, and for the Assistant to bring another perspective to the research and reflection process.
As Research Assistant, you will support us with the following and have the opportunity to gain skills and experience in these areas:
- Researching existing approaches to Early Years research and evaluation
- Creating research ‘enquiry questions’ in collaboration with the 11 Energiser funded partners
- Designing methods and tools that the grantholders will use to evidence their work and respond to the chosen research questions
- Visiting grantholders to observe their work and collect evidence in response to the research questions
- Reflecting on and analysing data and evidence
- Creating research outputs which might include reports, podcasts, films etc.
In addition to hands-on experience in these areas, you will:
- Complete a ‘Development Needs Analysis’ with the lead researcher to understand your hopes and goals for your time as Research Assistant, and create a development and work plan that supports you to move towards these goals
- Receive training and mentoring from the lead researcher and other members of the learning community team
- Have the opportunity to visit and observe other Groundswell projects
There is a total fee of £4800 across 3 years (£1600 per year), which is 24 days @ £200 per day (8 days per year). Travel expenses will be covered in addition.
What we are looking for
This is an entry level role for someone early in their career. The Essential Experience we are looking for in a Research Assistant is:
- Some experience working with children in early years settings (for example in a childcare role)
- An interest or background in creativity and arts
- An interest in developing research and evaluation skills (for example observing workshops and completing observation reports; reflective practice; data analysis; designing research outputs like reports and podcasts)
- Ability to manage your own time and work independently on tasks
In acknowledgement of the lack of diversity and representation in the early years sector, and in research and evaluation, we are particularly interested in supporting someone who has faced barriers to working in this field as a result of their background, experiences or circumstances.
Terms of the role
- You will need to attend planning and reflection meetings with the Groundswell learning community team, and learning community events
- If possible you will join us at the learning community launch event on Wednesday 9th October (in London), though we know this is very soon after the interview date so this isn’t essential
- Travel to visit projects will be required (you can be based anywhere in the UK)
- We will need to complete an Enhanced DBS check for you
- This is a freelance contract so you will be responsible for your own tax and National Insurance
- You will also need to have access to your own computer and internet connection
Application process and key dates
Please let us know if there’s anything we can do to make the application and interview process more accessible for you. If you are Disabled and your application meets the Essential Experience for the post, we will offer you a guaranteed interview. We are also committed to making adjustments that would support you in applying for or carrying out the role.
To apply, please send the following to Jenn Raven at jravenconsultancy@gmail.com. You can also contact Jenn with any questions before you apply:
- A CV
- A cover letter (around one page long) or a video/audio recording (around 5 minutes long) that describes why you are interested in the role; what you’d like to gain from it; and any highlights you’d like to share from your early years experience and creative background/interests
Key dates are:
- The deadline for applications is 5pm on Monday 23rd September
- Interviews will take place online on Wednesday 2nd October (we will share interview questions in advance so that you have time to prepare, and you are welcome to bring notes with you)