Join us
Community engagement at the University of Cambridge is working in new ways - and we want you to be a part of it.
We are setting up a Community Engagement Advisory Board to shape how we connect and collaborate with local and global communities. If you are interested in making research and engagement more inclusive, responsive and impactful, we'd love to hear from you.
What you'll do
As a member of this board, you will put community knowledge at the heart of our work. Our aim is to support community-led ideas and develop opportunities for collaboration between communities and University researchers. As a member of the Board you will guide and inform this work.
We actively encourage applications from underrepresented groups and will work to make sure that the recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible. This includes making adjustments for accessibility, and we are happy to talk through any support you might need. Please contact us at communityengagement@admin.cam.ac.uk for more information on adjustments and accessibility.
Choose your Working Group
The board has two working groups. Please apply to the one that suits you best:
- Community Knowledge Working Group - this group will advise on community research collaborations.
- Festival Working Group - this group will advise on engagement activities and events, supporting the Cambridge Festival Team.
If you are interested in finding out more, we would love to hear from you.
Applications to join the Community Engagement Advisory Board close at 23:59 on 5 September 2025.
Our commitment to you
We are the Public Engagement Team at the University of Cambridge. We commit to the principles of collaboration. We will listen and engage with the feedback and recommendations you provide.
The lead convenor of the Community Knowledge Working group is Beth Elliott, the Community Engagement Manager. The lead convenor of the Festival Working Group is David Cain, the Cambridge Festival Manager.
Beth, David, and their administrator will be your main points of contact. They are responsible for communicating with you and planning meetings. They will respect the conclusions of the Board, and the contributions of each member. You will be able to contact them with any questions, comments, or constructive feedback at any point during the process. They will make changes where necessary and possible.
Payment
Being a member of the Board does not constitute paid employment. However, we value the time and expertise you contribute and will pay you for your participation:
- We offer £25 per hour for your time spent attending and preparing for working group meetings.
- We offer £150 for day-long meetings which do not require preparation.
- You can choose to receive this as a bank transfer or in the form of Lifestyle vouchers.
- If payment of any kind would make it more difficult for you to take part, you can decline payment and volunteer your time.
- If participating incurs extra costs for you, please discuss this with us in advance and we can pre-pay or reimburse you. Costs might include travel, childcare, printing costs, pay-as-you-go internet data, BSL interpretation, or translation of documents.
This level of payment is based on the NIHR payment guidelines which are a nationally recognised standard used by multiple organisations to determine pay for public contributors.
Additional benefits
As a member of the Community Engagement Advisory Board you will also get free membership of the University Library. This will allow you to access library books and spaces. We thank our colleagues at the University Library for supporting this.
Key dates
July 2025
Applications open.
August 2025
Want to talk things through before applying? You’re welcome to book a chat with us. Email communityengagement@admin.cam.ac.uk to book meetings with:
- Beth Elliott, convenor of the Community Knowledge Working Group, on Monday 18 or Thursday 21 August 2025.
- David Cain, convenor of the Festival Working Group, on Wednesday 20 August 2025.
September 2025
Submit your application by 23:59 on 5 September.
October 2025
If you are shortlisted, we will invite you for an informal chat in the week starting 6 October. You can choose to meet online, in-person at the Old Schools (where the Public Engagement Team is based), or in-person at a café in Cambridge city centre. Let us know if this incurs costs for you, and we can pay these directly or as an expense claimed with receipts.
We will use email to let you know if you have been invited to be a member of the board or if you were unsuccessful this time. Selected candidates will receive an information pack that will include details on payment options for you. We aim to hold the first official meetings of the Working Groups in January 2026. The date will be decided in consultation with members.
If you have any questions about the Board or the application process, please contact us at communityengagement@admin.cam.ac.uk.