Every community organization has questions: How can we better serve our community? What impact are our programs having? What opportunities exist to improve our work?
The Trent Community Research Centre (TCRC) partners with community organizations to help answer these questions through meaningful, community-based research. We connect organizations with student researchers, faculty expertise, and research support to explore challenges, identify opportunities, and create useful outcomes for the community.
Whether you need help evaluating a program, understanding community needs, exploring best practices, or investigating a new idea, TCRC can help turn your questions into research projects that create impact.
"I would tell other organizations that [working with the TCRC] can have a huge impact in terms of learning both ways for the host organization and for the students. The students can really contribute a new perspective and can provide really great research capacity towards the needs of the organization."
JEN McCALLUM
Manager of Green Infrastructure, Green Communities Canada
Community-Based Research Impact
Partnering with the TCRC gives your organization access to research support and expertise while creating opportunities to explore questions that strengthen your programs, services, and decision-making. Student researchers bring curiosity, research skills, and fresh perspectives, while community organizations contribute invaluable knowledge and experience gained through working directly with communities. Together, this collaboration produces evidence-based resources and practical recommendations that support organizational growth and community impact. Previous project hosts have used their research to strengthen funding applications, support advocacy efforts, inform strategic planning, and demonstrate the impact of their work, while also creating meaningful learning opportunities for the next generation of community-based researchers.
Beyond individual projects, the TCRC partnerships contribute to broader social impact. Each year, community-based research advances multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), addressing priorities such as good health and well-being, sustainable communities, climate action, reduced inequalities, and strong partnerships.
What Projects Can Students Complete?
Student researchers can support a wide range of community-based research projects designed to answer important questions, build knowledge, and support informed decision-making. Whether your organization is looking to better understand community needs, evaluate a program, explore emerging issues, or gather evidence to guide future planning, TCRC can help connect you with research approaches that fit your goals. Here are some examples of what our students can do:
- Program Evaluation: Understand what is working well and identify opportunities for improvement.
- Community Needs Assessments: Explore the experiences, priorities, and needs of community members.
- Literature Reviews: Gather and summarize existing research and best practices related to your work.
- Case Studies: Document experiences, programs, initiatives, or community impacts.
- Environmental and Sustainability Research: Investigate environmental challenges, practices, and opportunities.
Learn more about our past projects
View our current projects
Have questions? Our Project Coordinators can help determine which research methodologies would be the right approach.
Get Started
- Define Your Project
Start with a conversation with a TCRC Project Coordinator. We will learn about your organization, your goals, the questions you are hoping to explore, and the resources available to support the project. You do not need to have a fully developed research idea before reaching out, we can help you identify whether research is the right approach and how it can support your work.
Together, we will develop a Research Proposal that outlines the project goals, research question, scope, expected outcomes, timeline, and the support your organization can provide.
Once the project is approved, TCRC will work to connect your organization with a student researcher whose skills and interests align with the project.
- Meet a Student Researcher
Students interested in community-based research are required to submit an application to the TCRC. Each student then meets with a Project Coordinator to confirm their eligibility and explore their options. The student is then required to confirm their faculty supervisor. Once they have done so, a Project Coordinator will share their application with you for your review.
If you are interested in moving forward with the student, a Project Coordinator will coordinate a meeting with you, the student researcher, and their faculty supervisor. This meeting provides an opportunity to discuss the project, confirm expectations, and determine whether the partnership is a good fit.
- Prepare and Begin the Project
After a successful matching meeting, a Project Coordinator will walk you through the required Health & Safety Paperwork and help ensure everyone is prepared to begin the project.
- Hosting a Project
Community partners play an essential role throughout the research process. You will work closely with the student researcher by sharing your knowledge and expertise, providing feedback on research methods and project deliverables, and helping ensure the work remains connected to community priorities.
To support communication and collaboration, a TCRC Project Coordinator will schedule regular check-ins with you and the student researcher throughout the project.
- Celebrate the Results
At the end of the project, your organization will have the opportunity to share and celebrate the research outcomes. Every March, the TCRC hosts its annual Celebration of Research, where students showcase their work and community partners, researchers, and community members come together to recognize the impact of community-based research.
Get Started
Meet with a Project Coordinator
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the time commitment?
Each project is different, but community partners typically participate in an initial planning meeting, monthly check-ins, and a review of final project deliverables.
What does it cost?
Hosting a community-based research project free for all community organizations.
When would the student start?
Community-based research projects can start at the beginning of any semester (Fall, Winter, or Summer), meaning that work could start in September, January, or May. Projects are typically 4 or 8 months, with 8-month projects typically starting in September and running throughout the academic year.
Do I need to have research experience to be able to host a project?
Not at all. The Faculty Supervisor, Project Coordinator and other Trent resources are available will help support the student with all research requirements and methodologies.
Am I allowed to share the research afterwards publicly?
Absolutely! We encourage that.
Do you work with organizations outside of Peterborough?
We do. We have worked with partners across the region, province, and country. If you are unsure whether we may be a good fit for your organization, we encourage you to reach out.
