Volunteer Impact Researcher; x2 - Volunteer

We are looking for two passionate volunteer researchers to join our small team and play an active role in delivering our 2026 Gift Card Impact Roadmap. This is an engaged and collaborative position working closely with our lead researcher as well as the wider volunteer team.

Clothing Collective is a charity that connects people experiencing poverty with quality clothing through a gift card model. We partner with organisations focused on supporting people in need, such as food banks, shelters, and other support agencies, to distribute gift cards that can be spent at local charity shops, putting dignity, choice, and agency at the heart of how we give.

In 2026, we are embarking on an ambitious year long impact research programme to build a robust, evidence based picture of how our gift card service is changing lives. We want to understand what works, for whom, and why, so we can improve the service and demonstrate our impact to funders, partners, and the public.

To do this well, we need people. That is where you come in. Volunteer researchers will play an active role in delivering our 2026 Gift Card Impact Roadmap.

• Genuine interest in social research, impact evaluation, or poverty related issues
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build rapport with people from all walks of life, including those who have experienced poverty or marginalisation
• Comfortable conducting interviews (in person or online) and recording or noting responses accurately
• Ability to manage your own time and meet agreed deadlines
• Good written communication skills and ability to help summarise findings clearly and contribute to reports
• Commitment to ethical research practice, including informed consent, confidentiality, and treating participants with dignity and respect

• Experience in qualitative research methods such as interviews, focus groups, or thematic analysis from study, work, or volunteering
• Familiarity with quantitative data and comfort reading and interpreting basic charts or spreadsheet data
• Experience working with communities experiencing poverty, marginalisation, or other vulnerabilities
  
  Knowledge of participatory or co design research approaches
• Experience using tools such as Microsoft Forms, Excel, or qualitative analysis software

Across the year, you will contribute to all phases of our research programme. Key activities include

• Conducting one to one online user testing and a longitudinal study with beneficiaries, exploring how the gift card service affects their lives over time
• Helping to facilitate a co design workshop with beneficiaries in July, bringing their voices into practical service improvements
• Supporting data collection, note taking, and thematic analysis across qualitative and quantitative findings
• Contributing to two mini-impact reports and a final comprehensive 2026 Impact Report
• Following up with participants during the evaluation phase to assess the impact of service changes

You will work directly alongside our lead researcher across all five phases of our research programme, from conducting interviews with beneficiaries to helping synthesise findings into reports that will genuinely shape how we operate.

This is a hands on, meaningful role rather than a passive one.

Commitment Flexible, to fit around study or work (approx. 2–5 hours/week). This is an ideal opportunity for university students, recent graduates, or anyone building experience in applied social research, impact evaluation, or human-centred design. It is also a great fit for experienced researchers looking to contribute to a cause they care about.

We are not looking for perfection. We are looking for curiosity, commitment, and care. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, including those who are newer to research and looking to build their skills in a supported environment.