A community feedback event and report shares the findings of the REPAIR Flex Fund project

Published on 12 August 2024


The REPAIR project, Research on Energy through PArticipatory Insights from community Representatives, is a collaboration between Uttara Narayan, Researcher in Energy Demand and Racial Justice at the Environmental Change Institute, Sarah Higginson, Knowledge Exchange Specialist at the University Research Services, Elizabeth Blakelock, an energy policy expert and inclusion specialist, and Nigel Carter, Mujahid Hamidi and Hassan Sabrie from Oxford Community Action (OCA). Some of their work has been funded by the ACCESS Flex Fund.

REPAIR aims are to understand the relationship between racialisation and energy use, in three ways.

  1. Contributing to evidence on the relationship through the lived experience testimonies of residents of East Oxford.
  2. Exploring community-centred approaches to conduct such research in a manner that is non-extractive and respectful to the participants.
  3. Continuing to connect this evidence with systemic stakeholders, including community organisations and decision-makers.

Through the partnership with Oxford Community Action, the study sought to understand the experiences of racially disadvantaged residents of East Oxford in using and managing energy in their daily lives.

In July 2024, Project REPAIR conducted a community feedback event with its research participants in collaboration with Oxford Community Action.

At the event, the emerging insights from REPAIR were shared with the participants, as per their request. Feedback on the insights was sought, and there were discussions on how to take this work forward, especially with respect to sharing this information with decision-makers, in light of the new government in the UK.

A community report, highlighting the insights alongside available support and tips on managing energy hardships was shared with the participants.

N.B The project was among one of 14 others that were awarded additional Participatory Research Seed Fund by the University of Oxford, to fund the organising of this community feedback event