44. Becoming a Support Research Assistant: Why This Work Matters to Me

Working as a Support Research Assistant of people with a learning disability is the most rewarding work I’ve done. 

How I Got Here 

I’d like to show you why but first a brief review of what got me here after over 40 years doing other work that ranged from building, decorating, cleaning at the Natural History museum and 26 years as a Research Administrator for Imperial College Research Services. Well that’s a longer story! In brief I found myself without work following an amicable separation from my last job, as my health was affecting what I could do. Wondering what was open to me, I found myself walking through Westfield shopping centre (not something I would do by choice!), but I had heard they were holding a job fair and thought I would see what’s on offer for someone seeking part-time work with physical restrictions. 

A Chance Encounter at a Job Fair 

So, the first few booths were not encouraging. Working for the police, prison service and airport security were all non starters. I then saw a booth advertising Action on Disability, and the poster drew me to ask what was on offer. They explained that following some online training (15 or so hours) on a wide range of subjects (dealing with someone with epilepsy through to GDPR), with tests attached to each module, I would be offered a job. Despite that horrifying thought (I have dyslexia and the word test or exam sends shivers down the spine) I still was drawn to learn more. 

Well, I got an interview and was accepted to go on to the online course, which wasn’t as horrifying as I thought, and a month later I began. The charity matches you to people in the workplace with a variety of disabilities. After a few weeks I was paired on a more permanent basis with a young man who would a year down the line introduce me to working at Kingston University and the team I am now part of, known as the KIND Research Group. 

Why I Love the Work 

That’s the how I got to here but not the full picture on why I love the work. That’s not so easy to put into words (even with spell check and grammar review) as it’s feelings. Helping everyone in a team equally express their thoughts and feelings, feel the true value of their worth. Those I help have experience in aspects of life that I have no knowledge or insight into, so when they can express themselves and be heard, their words have great power. 

Supporting colleagues to talk about death and dying   

The subject matter of our research might at first make you wonder why I find so much joy in my job. All the work revolves around death and dying and how this should be talked about with those with learning disabilities. Many run a mile from such a topic, but the team talk about every aspect of the subject with tact, care and clarity. 

My role is not to speak on my colleagues’ behalf or guess what they are thinking, but to encourage, support and help them to simply be themselves. They have incredible insight and are able to voice their own thoughts when we work with the simple premise that all humans are equal and valued. 

I hope I’ve given a small window into the work of a Support Research Assistant in this great team. It’s rewarding, heart-warming and often fun, as well as serious and emotional at times. 

I’m so glad I stopped at the desk in Westfield job care and changed direction in my work. 

Written by Andrew Priest, Support Research Assistant at Kingston University.