A post graduate student researching the experiences of people who access social services in the context of Bermuda’s colonial history has won backing from an island charity.

Christina Arden received the $6,000 award from the Bermuda Historical Society, which is assisting her to conduct the study that began in earnest this month.

Ms Arden, who has a master’s degree in Clinical Research from the University of Manchester, England, will enter the final year of her PhD in social work at the University of Dundee, Scotland, this September.

She said: “The point is to make the research Bermuda specific.

“I couldn’t do any work looking at social service systems without looking at our colonisation history and looking at Bermuda’s British Overseas Territories history.

“All of those things make us unique so you have to have an understanding of that.

“You almost have to be an amateur historian to then think about analysing the current structures and seeing how any changes will be relevant to us.

“Maybe that is the ‘why’ for my research, where I am trying to critique a system using Bermuda’s unique history.”

Ms Arden, who worked in the social services setting for six years on the island, is using the photo-voice methodology — a participatory method whereby her volunteers will take pictures and inform the research through their first-hand experiences within the system.

She will select a group of about ten respondents and focus groups will be created to progress the research.

The student hopes that her work can be used to inform future policy for social services.

Ms Arden, a “proud” graduate of CedarBridge Academy and the Bermuda College, said: “You get to see how consensus and debate socially happens.

“These are people who might have similar experiences, they can talk about commonalities in their lives, or struggles or barriers they have had within social services.

“Any outcomes from the research that may impact policy come directly from them. It is helping them have more of a voice in policies and procedures that directly impact their lives.”

Ms Arden added: “The whole point of my research is looking at decoloniality principles and that is to go into communities, work together and have collaboration.

“If I do any kind of research, I do it having those principles.

“When I am working with people, they are the experts, they are taking the pictures and telling me about their lives. Anything I can interpret is all from them.”

Shirley Pearman, who is on the executive committee of the Bermuda Historical Society, spearheaded the award programme almost 30 years ago and it has since made awards to 14 recipients.

She and John Cox, the society’s vice-president and another executive committee member, made the selection recommendation.

Ms Pearman explained that while there were many large awards, scholarships and bursaries available in Bermuda, not many focused on scholars investigating the unique history of the island.

Clarence Maxwell, Kim Dismont-Robinson and James Munro are among the society’s previous awardees.

Ms Pearman recalled how Dr Maxwell, the first recipient of the award in 1996, said the support was about more than the money, it was beneficial to include on a resumé.

She said: “We awarded him $2,500. It was a nominal amount but a lot at the time for us.

“He said it is more than the money and, as he was moving in those circles, it was so important to have on your resumé your award, scholarship or recognition.”

Andrew Bermingham, the president of the society, explained: “The Bermuda Historical Society has been in existence since 1895 and is one of Bermuda’s oldest charities.

"When funds permit, we offer a postgraduate history award to a deserving Bermudian.

“As a volunteer organisation we rely on public support. We are also indebted to the ministry of culture [presently Tourism, Culture and Sport] which, over the years, has awarded us a grant.

“Recently, Everen made a substantial donation which has enabled us to make this award to Christina.”

The society’s museum has been at its Queen Street location since 1957 and “offers a snapshot of 400 years of Bermuda history”.

It is junior partners with the Bermuda National Library.