17.04.2026
A photograph taken by Vita during her work at Black Mountains College.A Day in the Life of a Community Embedded Researcher: Vita Terry
A photograph taken by Vita during her work at Black Mountains College.It has been four months since I began my four year post as an Action Research Fellow at Black Mountains College – one of the five community partners involved in the C4 research programme. Before this, I worked in roles that involved bringing a variety of different people together to tackle challenges facing the voluntary and community sector. Sometimes that meant facilitating place based conversations; increasingly it meant holding online spaces that connected people across the UK.
Now, my work looks and feels very different. I spend my time in Talgarth and Treherbert, two communities in the rolling landscape of Mid Wales. There are days when I still catch myself pausing just to take in where I am – mountains unfolding in every direction, waterfalls hidden in forested corners, red kites circling lazily above the towns. Being based within a rural context has been a readjustment. Communities here are dispersed across valleys and hillsides, and yet I instantly the depth of vibrancy and the long history of community action woven into these places.
Although I’ve only been here four months, I’ve already been struck by the beauty of the landscape but also the strong sense of community that exists within the communities. From the various community activities regenerating the area, the monthly farmers’ market, to the annual festival and walking group. I’m excited to keep learning about how and why community connection works but also what is distinctively Welsh about this context and the potential learning to be shared with the other nations.
Embedding In
My focus in these early months has been simple but essential: embedding in. That has meant learning the rhythm and organisational culture of Black Mountains College, finding my bearings in the local area, and slowly building rapport with residents. Most days look different. Some mornings begin with chance conversations in the local butcher or greengrocer – small interactions that matter just as much as formal meetings. Other days I attend community engagement sessions in the Town Hall discussing ‘What matters to Talgarth’ or involved in conversations about food systems and the local environment, or ongoing local initiatives.
Being embedded means being present. It means paying attention to who is already active in the community – and who isn’t. Adopting a relational approach is key, and recognising that trust grows slowly, in unexpected places. These observations will eventually shape how we design the community led research that sits at the heart of the C4 programme. My role at this early stage, is less about delivering research and more about listening, understanding what community action already looks like here, what knowledge we can build on, and what gaps or opportunities are emerging.
Capacity Building
Alongside community engagement, a key part of my role is building research capacity among Black Mountains College students. This has quickly become one of the most rewarding parts of my week.
I get to talk with students about the areas I’m most passionate about: community engagement, participatory action research, creative methods, ethical considerations, and the messy realities of applying these in the real world. I love being able to offer a space where students can share their research interests and explore how these approaches might shape their own practice.
I’ve also been contributing to wider strategic conversations within the college particularly around the “changing practice” approach that underpins much of the learning at Black Mountains College. I see part of my job as helping students translate ideas about community, research, and systems change into lived experience and practical skills.
Looking Ahead: Connection, Collaboration, and Community Power
This summer, I’ll be supporting a community engagement event that brings together voluntary organisations, informal groups, and individuals involved in local activity in Talgarth. I’m excited about creating an inclusive space where people can learn about one another’s work, celebrate what already exists, and explore what might be possible next.
Reflective practice is a key tool for this type of work and if I had to distil my biggest learnings at this early stage, they would be:
- Trust takes time and often grows in the most ordinary encounters.
- Power matters: who shows up, and who doesn’t, shapes every process.
- Influence isn’t the same as control: sometimes stepping back is the most important thing.
- Good process leaves legacy: how we create space determines what becomes possible within it.
I’m particularly looking forward to continuing conversations and deepening collaborations with the Black Mountains College community as well as the local communities. While there is still a lot of uncertainty about what the next four years will unfold, and being comfortable to lean into the messiness, it also brings excitement and curiosity to see what connections will be made, the possibilities for driving local action, and potential learning from this work.
If you would like to get in touch or find out more about the research in Mid Wales please contact Vita (vita@blackmountainscollege.uk)
Cite this article:
Terry, V. (2026). A Day in the Life of a Community Embedded Researcher: Vita Terry. The Centre for Collaboration in Community Connectedness. https://c4.ac.uk/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-community-embedded-researcher-vita-terry/
