Peer Researcher - Trans Pathway Project

About Us

akt is the UK’s national LGBTQ Youth Homelessness charity. We provide safe homes, mentoring, and support to ensure that no young person needs to choose between a safe home and being who they are. 24% of young people facing homelessness in the UK identify as LGBT (National Scoping of LGBT Youth Homelessness, akt, 2015) and 78% of LGBTQ+ young people cited an absence of family support (The LGBTQ+ Youth Homelessness Report, akt, 2021). The charity was founded in 1989 and operates service centres in London, Manchester, Newcastle, Bristol and works online through a Digital Service to offer support to young people outside of our four office regions. akt works with over 800 vulnerable young people a year providing both face to face and online assistance.

About the Trans Pathway Project

The Trans Pathway is a 3-year pilot project providing support to 18-25 year old trans and non-binary people in Greater Manchester who are facing homelessness or living in a hostile environment. The project provides Floating Support and Youth Engagement activities. You can find out more about the project here: the Trans Pathway Project - akt

So we can have a bigger impact, we are running an external evaluation of the project. This will explore the strengths and weaknesses of the Trans Pathway model, the common needs and barriers faced by young people accessing the project, and identify best practice. We hope our learnings can help akt and other services provide the best support to trans and non-binary young people facing homelessness.

About the Role

What will the Peer Researchers do?

• You will attend 2 full days training on Monday 22nd and Tuesday 23rd July 2024. This will equip you with Peer Research skills to carry out the role.
• You will complete akt induction training covering data protection and safeguarding.
• Peer Research activities will take place July-September 2024:
  • Conducting interviews with 6-8 young people on the project.
  • Being a participant-bserver at three sessions of the Trans Pathway Youth Engagement group (Thursday evenings).
  • Taking part in an activity analysing themes frm the project.
• You will receive support from our External Evaluator, akt Trans Pathway Project Manager, and Groundswell.
• You are invited to contribute to an event in 2025 to showcase and share learnings from the Project.

Payment and expenses

The fee for this work of £625, paid in three instalments:

• £125 on completion of the training;
• £250 at the midway point; and
• £250 upon completion of the evaluation project.

You will be responsible for all Income Tax liabilities, National Insurance or similar contributions related to this payment. akt can reimburse reasonable and necessary expenses when discussed and agreed in advance and where receipts are provided.

Other information

More information about the role (including eligibility criteria) can be found in the information document attached to this vacancy. 

Application deadline: midnight (12am) on Friday 21st June 2024

Assessment date: week commencing 1st July (exact date TBC)