Volunteer Research Assistant - Volunteer in Aylesbury

Support a national research project analysing NHS Freedom of Information responses on infection prevention and indoor air quality. Help produce evidence that will influence policy, improve healthcare safety and protect healthcare workers, patients and visitors.

What difference will you make?

Your work will help create evidence that has the potential to improve healthcare environments across the UK. Healthcare workers continue to experience some of the highest rates of COVID-19 infection and Long Covid, yet there is currently no comprehensive national picture of how NHS organisations are managing infection prevention, ventilation and indoor air quality. By analysing FOI responses, you’ll help identify where good practice exists, where improvements are needed and what changes could better protect staff, patients and visitors.

The evidence you help produce will inform SHH‑UK’s Safe Air 4 All campaign and support our engagement with NHS organisations, policymakers, professional bodies, regulators and the media. It will contribute to briefing papers, reports and recommendations that promote evidence‑based infection prevention measures and safer healthcare environments.

As a small charity, volunteers make everything we do possible. Your contribution will strengthen our research capacity, allowing us to produce high‑quality evidence that can influence policy and improve understanding of infection prevention and indoor air quality. Ultimately, your work will help protect healthcare workers who care for others every day, while contributing to safer healthcare settings for everyone.

What are we looking for?

We’re looking for someone who enjoys analysing information, spotting patterns and turning complex evidence into clear, meaningful findings. You don’t need previous experience of Long Covid or infection prevention, but you should have an interest in research and using evidence to improve healthcare.

The most important qualities are strong analytical skills, attention to detail and the ability to work independently while collaborating with a supportive remote team.

Ideally, you’ll have

• Experience of qualitative or quantitative research and data analysis.
• The ability to identify key themes, trends and findings.
• Experience writing clear reports, summaries or briefing papers.
• Good IT skills, including spreadsheets and word processing software.
• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• The ability to manage your own workload and meet agreed deadlines.
• A commitment to SHH‑UK’s mission and values.

Experience working with Freedom of Information responses, public sector data, health research or policy is desirable. We welcome applicants with transferable research skills from academia, healthcare, public health, charities or other sectors.

Above all, we’re looking for someone who shares our commitment to evidence‑based practice and wants to use their skills to help improve the safety of healthcare workers, patients and visitors. As a volunteer with SHH‑UK, you’ll become part of a supportive team where your contribution will have a genuine impact on national policy and advocacy.

What will you be doing?

As a Volunteer Research Assistant, you’ll join our Safe Air 4 All campaign, helping us build one of the UK’s most comprehensive evidence bases on infection prevention and indoor air quality in healthcare. Working alongside experienced trustees and researchers, you’ll analyse Freedom of Information (FOI) responses from NHS organisations to identify current practice, trends, gaps and examples of good practice. Your work will contribute directly to reports, briefing papers and evidence summaries that support our policy and campaigning activities.

Responsibilities

• Reviewing and organising FOI responses from NHS organisations.
• Identifying key findings, themes and trends within the data.
• Supporting the analysis and synthesis of evidence.
• Assisting with the preparation of reports, briefing papers and other evidence‑based resources.
• Helping ensure research findings are accurate, well organised and presented in a clear, accessible way.
• Working collaboratively with the project team to strengthen SHH‑UK’s evidence‑based advocacy.

The role is fully remote and flexible, requiring around 2–4 hours per week over approximately six months. You’ll receive guidance and support throughout and work with a friendly team committed to improving healthcare worker safety through better evidence and policy.