Participatory-based Community Action Research

Course description

Community-engaged research has grown since the pandemic, with academic institutions collaborating with grassroots organizations. These partnerships often include civil society groups, providing incentives for participant access and interview training.

Participatory methodologies empower community advocates to lead their own research, challenging power dynamics and offering fresh perspectives. However, there’s still limited understanding of how to conduct bottom-up community-based research that builds capacity within local organizations.

Community-based action research questions traditional power structures and sources of knowledge. While popular, these methods need more comprehension of their requirements and challenges. Participatory approaches enable advocates to lead research, bringing new voices and challenging established power relations.

The Participatory-based Community Action Research course integrates research methods with practice directly involving participants in their environments through an ‘action research’ approach to address community questions and concerns.

Course objectives
The objectives of the course are:

1. To introduce and enable participants to understand participatory community-based action research methods and implementation.
2. To equip participants with the skills and tools necessary to facilitate community conversations using Appreciative Inquiry methods, alongside traditional quantitative survey and qualitative approaches.
3. To enable participants to write impactful reports on their findings.

Learning outcomes
As a result of participating on the course, participants will:

1. Understand research methods within community settings;
2. Be able to lead and facilitate community conversations using a range of interactive participatory tools;
3. Be able to organise and analyse information to inform own writing.

The programme will be over 5 days of training, covering theory and a group project with a presentation on the final day. Participants will learn participatory tools to engage underrepresented communities in socio-political processes.

Daily schedule: 9.30am – 4.30pm, covering:

• Participatory-based action research
• Quantitative and qualitative methods via Appreciative Inquiry
• Group action project
• Excursions/cultural visits
• Presentation, reflections, and recognition

Duration:    5 days

Dates:         29/9 – 05/10 2025

Location:    Chania- Crete, Greece

This workshop is intended for people working in any public or private organisation involved in education, training, adult learning, sports, youth activities, funders, community development or consultants. It is particularly relevant to senior workers involved directed in the field of youth and community development work, in such capacities as consultants, trustees, volunteers, corporate representatives, and policymakers.

Karl Murray, with over 30 years experiences in teacher training, sport development, youth and community education, and Connexions’ development for individuals aged 14-19, including over 17 years as a senior manager within the London Boroughs of Harrow and Southwark at the strategic directorate level.

Through his consultancy company FW Business Ltd, he has been involved in community-based research, evaluation, organisational leadership, and development. In recent years, he has operated at international, national, and regional levels, collaborating with various organisations, NGOs, and individuals in the voluntary and community sector, concentrating on governance, strategic planning, accredited training programmes, monitoring, and evaluation.

Regarding capacity support development for organisations, particularly small and emerging charities and social enterprises, work has included:

• Refocusing organisational priorities through strategic planning, programme redesign, and transformational change processes within the UK and internationally, most notably in Europe, the USA, Cayman Islands, and other British Overseas Territories.
• Bid writing and sponsorship acquisition, securing close on £60 million over the last 17yrs for a range of not-for-profit organisations nationally and internationally.
• Development and deployment of a range of capacity self-assessment tools used extensively by voluntary and community organisations.
• Interim management of charitable and social enterprises
• Development and implementation of accredited and recognised delivery programmes.

Dr. Markos Perrakis is a leadership development & process facilitator, psychologist, speaker, consultant and trainer of individuals and teams, founder and Managing Director of the EU Adult training & Counselling Provider Fractality. He designs and implements EU projects in the fields of leadership development and strategic planning and uses eclectic appreciative approaches in the public and private sector in order to promote effective communication, individual and collective process development. He specializes in coaching, supervision, human capital development, training and assessments. He holds a Ph.D. in Leadership Styles and their efficiency in organisations with publications in the fields of organizational psychology and counselling and a M.A. in clinical Psychology. He is trained in Systemic Consultation, solution focused & cognitive behavioural approaches, methods of participatory design, Spiritual Intelligence, a certified provider of Vocational Guidance and Professional Orientation, utilizing psychometric assessments and coaching tools for teams and individuals in organizational, career and personality issues and ISO 9001 Lead Auditor.  He is representative of the Association of International Institution Supervision in Europe (ANSE), Member of International InterVision Groups, Scientific Assistant of SOL (Society of Organisational Learning), Scientific partner of the European Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (EUMU) in Greece, in the fields of Strategic Planning and Human Capital Development programmes.

Dr. Perrakis is one of the first persons in Greece who applied the methodology of Appreciative Inquiry, which is used in the UN Summit by UN leaders. In contrast to the traditional management approaches that focus on problems, the appreciative approach makes use of the potential of the human capital of organizations.

The programme takes place in the Island of Crete, one of the most exotic destinations of the Aegean Sea in Greece. The workshop and the accommodation is at the unique 5-star village resort of Porto Platanias in Chania that provides you with safe and luxurious accommodations. It is the perfect place to combine personal growth with holidays.

This Mediterranean destination embraces both sea and charming nature. Porto Platanias Village is located within walking distance from the beach and the village of Platanias. Local taverns, Greek eateries, and arts shops draw people from all around the world and contribute to the vibrant feeling of the Cretan summer, still offering 30°C (86°F) daytime temperatures and 25°C (77°F) warm sea to enjoy in September. For more information on the venue, visit: www.portoplataniasvillage.gr

Closest international airports: Chania (24 km); Heraklion (165 km)

Total full package price for participants with double room accommodation: 1,500€ (approx. depending on the period)

All prices include:

• A 5-star hotel accommodation,
• Welcome cocktail
• Breakfast and lunch
• Workshop tuition fee
• Educational materials
• Certificate of participation and CPD approved certificate

Payment arrangements

Deposit equal to 50% due at the time of application by 30 June 2025 with the final 50% by 30 July 2025.

Additional option:

A half-day excursion with the group led by locals – €50

Questions or concerns? Please contact us at [email protected] or call +302106010522.

Cancellation Policy*

Until 30 days before the starting date of the course, there will be no cancellation charges with payment fully refunded. Between 29 and 15 days before the starting date of the workshop, 50% of the fee will be refunded. Within 14 days before the starting date of the workshop no refunds will be made.