The Young Foundation’s Peer Action Collective (PAC) report ‘Sharing power, showing understanding’, which shares the perspectives of more than 5,000 young people, has been nominated for the Market Research Society’s (MRS) prestigious President’s Medal award.
PAC is a network driven by and for young people at risk, or with lived experience of violence. They work to make their communities safer and fairer through a programme of peer research and social action.
Between 2021 and 2023, the Peer Action Collective was driven by more than 121 young people, employed by 10 Delivery Partners (community-based youth organisations) across England and Wales who led on research and social action. As PAC’s National Partner, The Young Foundation provided training and ongoing support to young people and Delivery Partners to deliver inclusive and ethical peer research and impactful social action projects, and also brought together learning in outputs including the nominated report. The programme is funded by the Youth Endowment Fund, the #iwill Fund (a joint investment between The National Lottery Community Fund and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport), and the Co-op group, who have played a crucial role in supporting youth leadership throughout.
Isabella Pereira, Interim Co-Director of Research at The Young Foundation, said:
“I am incredibly proud of the team at The Young Foundation, and delighted to see the authors named in this prestigious award nomination. The recognition of this report is a huge credit to our funders in their championing of youth voice and an important moment too for participatory approaches and social innovation. I hope it will provide inspiration for new ways of working and creating impact through research.”
Phil Mullen, Senior Research Manager at The Young Foundation, said:
“This nomination is a huge moment of pride for everyone involved in the Peer Action Collective – and, as young people drove the programme, is a huge endorsement of youth-led research and social action. I encourage everyone to look at and use the full range of practical outputs that young people have developed, including detailed research reports and specific and practical toolkits, a number of which share ways to meaningfully and inclusively centre youth voice.”
The winner of the President’s Medal will be announced at the MRS Awards on 1 December.
Find out more about the Peer Action Collective programme and read the report.
Education and employment Families and youth Inequality Peer research Social action Posted on: 24 November 2025