Arts Outburst is pleased to be delivering a new community-led research project, Tilbury Together: Living Voices, Lasting Change, funded by Thurrock Council.

At its heart, this project is about listening. Too often, decisions about services, employment support and wellbeing are made without fully capturing the lived experience of the people most affected. Tilbury Together takes a different approach by placing local residents at the centre of the research process and recognising the value of lived experience as expertise.

A peer-to-peer approach

The project will train and support local residents in Tilbury to become Peer Researchers. These residents will carry out confidential, one-to-one conversations with other members of their community, exploring experiences of employment, worklessness, health inequalities and participation in everyday life.

By using a peer-to-peer model, the research creates space for more open and honest conversations. People are often more comfortable speaking with someone who understands their local context, shares similar experiences, or lives in the same community. This approach helps surface insights that traditional consultations can miss.

Peer Researchers will receive training, ongoing support and vouchers as a thank-you for their time and contribution. No previous research experience is required – curiosity, empathy and a willingness to listen are what matter most.

Connecting community voice to real decision-making

The insights gathered through Tilbury Together will directly inform local service planning and policy development within Thurrock. Arts Outburst will work closely with Thurrock Council, the Integrated Locality Team for Tilbury and Chadwell, and local partners across health, employment, education and the voluntary sector to ensure findings are shared meaningfully and responsibly.

This is not research for research’s sake. The aim is to ensure that the voices of Tilbury residents actively shape future approaches to employment support, health and wellbeing services, and community development.

Working in partnership

Arts Outburst will be working alongside a wide range of community organisations, statutory services and local networks to support recruitment and engagement. Trusted partners play a vital role in helping us reach residents who may not usually engage with formal consultations, ensuring the research reflects the diversity of experiences within Tilbury.

Get involved

We are currently inviting local organisations, health partners, schools and statutory services across Tilbury and Thurrock to support the project by referring residents who may be interested in becoming Peer Researchers.

If you are a resident interested in taking part, or an organisation that would like to support referrals or learn more about the project, we would love to hear from you.

hello@artsoutburst.co.uk

Tilbury Together: Living Voices, Lasting Change is delivered by Arts Outburst and funded by Thurrock Council.