Turning dense research into clear, actionable briefs.
Plain-language editing for universities, think tanks and NGOs.
Free 200-word sample • Evidence-led, ethics-safe
Problems I solve
- Cut a 60-page report to a 1–2-page brief without losing nuance.
- Fix consistency across figures, captions and references; add alternative text.
- Align copy with donor/journal guidelines and accessibility standards.
- Tailor the same findings for donors, policymakers and public pages.
Policy Briefing: Newham private renting — five low-cost actions (spec)
60-second summary:
With almost half of homes privately rented, Newham can tighten outcomes using existing powers. My briefing recommends:
- Ward-level PRS dashboard (public, open data) by Jan 2026.
- 90-day rapid-response for unlicensed homes (warn → civil penalty → prosecution).
- Data-triggered sweeps where escalations ≥ 12% for 2 months.
- 28-day damp & mould standard with quarterly reporting.
- Letting-agent compliance register + quarterly spot-checks.
Briefing PDF (click to view)
Spec briefing based on publicly available Newham/UK sources. Not commissioned or endorsed.
Case Study: England heat 2024 — executive rewrite
My 60-second summary:
England recorded 1,311 heat-associated deaths across four heat episodes (14 days) in summer 2024. Risk concentrated in people aged 75+/85+ years and in care homes and hospitals. Earlier episodes had the largest impact.
Recommendations for Council Response:
- Care-home protocol: hydration checks, room-temp logs, daily welfare rounds.
- Same-day comms: message 75+ lists; extend cool-space hours 72h; phone-trees.
- Target hotspots: prioritise London, West Midlands, Kent; checks for people living alone.
Original Case Study:
My rewrite — slide deck (click to view)
Based on UKHSA/GOV.UK, Heat mortality monitoring report, England: 2024 (OGL v3.0). This is a spec sample; not commissioned or endorsed.
Oxfam GB · Women’s Rights Fund (spec)
Before
The Women’s Rights Fund (WRF) is one of the first examples of Oxfam GB realising its ambition to be partner-led. The funding is multi-year and guaranteed, so partners can plan their work better. And because it is flexible, they can invest in their own priorities rather than those of donors, with minimum conditions beyond legal compliance. Crucially, the WRF includes money specifically for organisational strengthening in areas such as fundraising, communications and finance.
During its first three years, the WRF has worked with 10 women’s right organisations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Kenya, focusing on issues such as access to healthcare, agriculture, mining, political participation and support to women survivors of violence. A survey in February 2024 shows how WRF partners have made significant gains since the Fund began in 2020. Together, the 10 organisations have trebled the number of people they are able to help, from 17,365 (2021) to 60,000 people (2024), and more than doubled their annual income, thanks to the fundraising training through the WRF.
Source excerpt
After (plain language)
The Women’s Rights Fund (WRF) is Oxfam GB’s partner-led funding model, offering multi-year, flexible support with minimal conditions beyond legal compliance. It lets partner organisations set priorities and invest in core functions such as fundraising, communications and financial management.
Since 2020, the WRF has worked with ten women’s rights organisations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Kenya to improve access to healthcare, strengthen livelihoods in agriculture and mining, enhance political participation and assist survivors of violence. A February 2024 survey shows strong results: people reached nearly tripled—from 17,365 (2021) to 60,000 (2024)—and average annual income grew, aided by fundraising training through the WRF.
Spec edit based on public Oxfam GB material. Not commissioned or endorsed by Oxfam.
Services
Research → Plain-language brief
Who it’s for: research teams, policy units, NGOs.
Deliverables: 2-page brief, 150-word web summary, 3 pull-quotes.
Turnaround: 7 days.
From £400 • Two rounds included
Journal language & structure check (ethics-safe)
Scope: language & structure only (no writing).
Includes: tracked changes, structure notes, references tidy, one tidy pass post-review.
Turnaround: 72 h for ≤ 6,000 words.
From £180 • Rush +30% if needed
Impact report: clarity & consistency pass
Scope: 20–40 pages; clarity, consistency and accessibility notes for design.
Timeline: 10–14 days; two rounds included.
From £950
Process
- Discovery (15 min) — goals, audience, style guide.
- Free 200–300-word sample edit — you see my approach.
- Fixed quote & schedule — two rounds included.
- Delivery — tracked changes, clean copy, notes.
- 7-day tidy pass after your internal review.
Guarantee
If my edits don’t meet your style guide, you don’t pay the balance. Simple.
Ethical editing policy
- You retain authorship; I improve clarity, structure and presentation.
- Evidence-led: no hype. Limitations are stated.
- Accessibility first: plain English, clear headings, consistent figures, alt text guidance.
- Human-led, AI-assisted: tools for speed; facts and tone verified; files kept confidential.
- No ghostwriting for student submissions.
- Fiction: I preserve the author’s voice; I don’t fabricate submissions.
About
Kian Afsah — plain-language editor with a first-class academic background and fiction/screenwriting craft. I help research-driven teams publish work people can understand and act on.
Kian Afsah 