The Lancaster University Social Action Research Group sits within the Centre for Alternatives to Social and Economic Inequalities (CASEI), in the Sociology Department. Led by Professor Imogen Tyler, Dr Roger Haydon Mitchell, and Dr Jadwiga Leigh, this group functions as research hub for a number of regional groups and activities in Lancaster, Morecambe, Morecambe Bay, and wider North West Region concerned with enacting and enabling alternatives to poverty, racism and systemic social and health inequalities through grassroots action. We are motivated by the urgent need to create human-centred alternatives to dehumanising systems of neoliberal neo-colonial capitalism. Our research is concerned with exploring and practicing alternatives through participatory forms of social action, community engagement, building partnerships, and widening participation to education.
Key activities include:
• Documenting and evaluating community action research
• Sharing methods and good practices in action research
• Supporting community-led grant bids
• Enabling collaborations between academic and community action research
• Offering students and staff an opportunity to support and participate in action research and evaluation projects
• Providing research to support and advise community-led projects
• Running research activities and events
• Linking local and regional action research to national and international projects for social and economic alternatives.
Leads: Professor Imogen Tyler (Head of Department and Professor of Sociology, Lancaster University), Dr Roger Haydon Mitchell (Morecambe Bay Poverty Truth Commission, Morecambe Bay Love and Kindness movement and honorary research fellow CASEI), Dr Jadwiga Leigh (Director of Social Work Lancaster University, lead of New Beginnings Community Project).
Other Academic Staff Members: Dr Ala Sirrieyh (Senior Lecturer, Sociology), Dr Cassie Earl (Lecturer in Education and Social Justice, Educational Research), Dr Sunita Abraham (Honorary Research Fellow, CASEI, Sociology Department).
