Unequal pressures: how disadvantage shaped young people's education and wellbeing during the pandemic and why it still matters School closures during the COVID-19 pandemic didn’t just disrupt learning, they revealed and intensified deep inequalities that continue to shape young people’s lives today. While some children had the resources to adapt to remote learning, many from less advantaged households faced widening learning gaps, increased pressure at home, and rising levels of stress and anxiety. These challenges didn’t disappear when schools reopened. In fact, they foreshadowed the widening attainment gaps and escalating mental health concerns we are still grappling with now. 09 Oct 2025
Reimagining qualitative research education: a look inside our summer school Qualitative research education is more than just being taught how to conduct interviews. At the Introduction to Qualitative Research Summer School at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience we experimented with how research education can be more inclusive, more critical, and more human. This year’s course was one of our biggest yet, and its collaborative photovoice exhibition on the final day served as an impactful reminder of the power and diversity of qualitative research. 02 Oct 2025
Peer researchers in NHS research: approved in principle, undermined in practice? QUAHRC PhD student Bryher Bowness and colleagues reflect on the challenges of integrating peer researchers into the NHS. 23 Sep 2025
Work with us! Postdoctoral research associate in participatory research We are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Participatory Research to join an exciting National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) project that investigates and seeks to enhance the mental wellbeing of survivors of coercive control. 22 Sep 2025
Insights from our first CommonGround trial: engagement, feedback, and the future The CommonGround team shares findings and insights from their trial of an online peer support platform for those living with long term health conditions. 03 Sep 2025
Peer Support in Action: Observations from the CommonGround community The CommonGround research team share reflections on watching the birth and growth of a peer support online community for people with long-term conditions. 19 Feb 2025
Save the date for our expanded summer school This year we're expanding our annual summer school, "An Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods", from four days to five. It will run from Monday 21 - Friday 25 July. 06 Feb 2025
"Are you engaged?" How do we measure user engagement on CommonGround? In the second of their blogs on engagement, Hannah Jones and Grace Lavelle explore further the idea of engagement in online communities in relation to CommonGround, a peer support community for people living with long-term conditions. What is the best way to measure engagement appropriately for this unique project? 21 Oct 2024
CommonGround: avoiding tumbleweeds in the community Hannah Jones and Grace Lavelle from the CommonGround project reflect on the idea of engagement in online spaces and how it applies to CommonGround's online peer support community for people with long term conditions. They discuss the questions: what is ‘engagement’ in online communities and what kind of engagement do we hope to observe on CommonGround? 14 Oct 2024
Join our qualitative researcher database for exciting collaboration opportunities Are you a UK based researcher with expertise in qualitative methods? Interested in collaborating on cutting-edge mental health and neuroscience projects? We're seeking qualitative researchers and methodologists to join our growing network of experts seeking collaborations through the NIHR Research Support Service. 02 Oct 2024
Pitch us your podcast and blog ideas! Have an idea for a podcast or blog episode? Get in touch! 21 May 2024
Unlocking qualitative data in mental health research QUAHRC Alumna Cate McCombie and Director Vanessa Lawrence share their insights on Qualitative Diary Methods with the results of a recent scoping review. 11 Apr 2024
