By Leri Price, Research Fellow, Migration Policy Scotland

As we approach the end of the first year of the Better Mixing project, MPS is deep in fieldwork. The project incorporates several strands, but the core of our qualitative data is formed by the views and experiences of people living in selected neighbourhoods of Edinburgh, Fife and Aberdeen. Earlier this year we recruited a team of 12 peer researchers based in our research areas who took on responsibilities of recruiting participants and conducting the first stage of fieldwork – a short online interview.

MPS was always clear that peer researchers would be integral to the success of the fieldwork, and so it has proved. Firstly, as a small organisation working remotely, we relied on the local knowledge of peer researchers to help identify specific neighbourhoods where targeted interventions were most likely to be effective. Secondly, peer researchers brought a wealth of networks and contacts that enabled us to recruit research participants from a carefully balanced set of diverse backgrounds and migration experiences. It also enabled us to build a more detailed picture of the organisations and networks working in communities. Lastly, we were clear that building a diverse team across our chosen locations, with a rich pool of skills and experiences would be necessary to ensure the research was relevant and reached as many people as possible.

We recruited 12 peer researchers in March, and following a two-day residential training workshop in April, the team set to work.

Between them, our peer researchers helped identify 6 research sites, recruited a diverse range of participants in those sites, and conducted 92 interviews. The interview questions were shaped by feedback from the peer researchers themselves, who helped refine the survey questionnaire we developed. Beyond this, peer researchers acted as ambassadors and advocates for the project, something which has been incredibly valuable. They spread awareness of the project among local organisations and put us in contact with key people working to build better connections in their communities.

Below, three of our peer researchers have shared their experiences of being involved with the project.

Funke, Fife:

“Being a peer researcher with Migration Policy Scotland has been a rewarding and empowering experience. I first contributed to MPS’ project:  Tackling child poverty in migrant families and am currently involved in the Better Mixing project. Both opportunities have allowed me to bring the voices and lived experiences of African communities in Fife into important discussions that shape policy and practice. As a community leader, I have appreciated being recognised as someone who can help bridge the gap between communities and decision-makers.

“One of the most valuable parts of the role has been engaging directly with community members. Recruiting participants and conducting interviews helped me build deeper connections and gain a richer understanding of the challenges and experiences people face. I found that many participants were eager to share their stories when given a safe and trusted space. Being part of a team that values lived experience and diverse perspectives has been inspiring and has strengthened my confidence as a researcher and advocate.

“As the project progresses, I am looking forward to seeing how the research findings influence policy and contribute to positive change. I am also excited to continue learning from fellow researchers and ensuring that African voices in Fife remain visible, heard, and represented in future work.”

Michael, Aberdeen:

“I was super excited to be asked to be part of the Better Mixing project team and I wasn’t disappointed when I found out what the work was and how great the guys were to work with. The project was exciting and I really felt that I was making a difference considering the political situation in the country just now.

“The residential in Glasgow was probably one of the best training programs I’ve ever been on. The hotel was fantastic and we went out for a nice Indian meal as well. The training was very succinctly delivered to us in a great environment, the content was extremely informative, nuanced and it was nice to meet the whole team. We got to see Glasgow going by outside the window in a nice part of town.

I’m looking forward to the next part of the project where we are more hands-on. We will be in the room with people with diverse opinions and a diverse range of backgrounds. We hope they will be expressing themselves in a measured way in a calm environment. I myself have quite strong opinions in an anti-racist way and this project has made me more considerate of other people’s opinions. I’m more able to listen to people with different opinions. Even when I don’t agree, I myself now think this is healthy and listening is the key to starting dialogue and finding solutions.”

Chrissa, Edinburgh:

“Being part of the Better Mixing project has been a genuinely rewarding experience for me. I have particularly enjoyed the opportunity to bring together my experience as a researcher with my own understanding of migration, of being a migrant, and of life in Scotland. The residential organised for all researchers in Glasgow was a real highlight, as it gave us the space not only to learn and prepare for the research, but also to get to know one another, share our different experiences and perspectives, and begin to feel like a real team.

I am also really enjoying the fieldwork so far. Recruiting and interviewing participants has been fascinating, and I have felt privileged to hear people speak about their experiences of migration, belonging, community and everyday life in Edinburgh. Every interview has been different and has reminded me how complex and personal these experiences can be.

I am particularly looking forward to seeing what emerges across the different locations once these experiences are brought together. I am excited to explore how what we learn can contribute to a richer understanding of migration and belonging in Scotland.”

In the next stage of fieldwork, peer researchers will assist in running 9 focus groups across our research sites, and they will also conduct in-depth one-to-one interviews to explore experiences and perceptions of diversity in our research sites. I have found working with our peer researchers to be immensely enjoyable, and I look forward to continuing to work together over the next few months.

This blog offers personal views intended to offer a variety of perspectives. They do not necessarily reflect positions held by MPS

The Better Mixing project is funded by Nuffield Foundation’s Racial Diversity UK Fund, but the view expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily the Foundation.
Bluesky: @nuffieldfoundation.org, LinkedIn: Nuffield Foundation, website: www.nuffieldfoundation.org