Peer-researcher led action research: What should a mental health and wellbeing programme for Refugee Sanctuary Scotland look like?
This collaborative project between Refugee Sanctuary Scotland (RSS) and merl was led by five peer researchers, who are individuals with lived experience of the UK asylum system. The research explored the question: “What should a mental health and wellbeing programme for Refugee Sanctuary Scotland look like?”.
The project worked to collaboratively improve and expand RSS’s wellbeing programme based on the insights and priorities of those it aims to support, and to build a strong evidence base that can inform future funding bids.
It also sought to centre the voices of people seeking asylum in the design and evaluation of services intended for them, thereby contributing to more just, effective and trauma-informed support systems in Glasgow.
The five peer researchers worked closely with merl’s researchers over a five month period (November 2024- March 2025) to design the research question, select the data collection methods, collect the data, analyse the data, develop the key findings and recommendations and design and disseminate the findings.
The project team developed a really useful information sheet, laying out 10 considerations for researchers, institutions and organisations for working with peer researchers, which looks at the complex and nuanced nature of this kind of work.
It contains valuable recommendations on how researchers can approach their work with peer researchers in a respectful way and examples of questions they can ask themselves about their approach, practice and values.