On Wednesday 12th July, a wide range of representatives from the VCSE sector and academic researchers met at One Strawberry Lane in Newcastle City Centre. The purpose of the event, co-hosted by VONNE and National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) partners, was to explore ways for researchers and VCSE organisations to work better together to address health challenges in the North East and North Cumbria. A national toolkit was introduced and the event provided a forum for people to share their experience and expertise to build on this to create a regional code of practice. The hope is that this code of practice will support more sustainable and mutually beneficial VCSE research partnerships.
The event was a joint project between VONNE and local NIHR organisations, and included a broad range of presentations and videos in the morning which shared experiences of partnerships from many different perspectives. Presenters offered some fascinating insights and observations to inform further discussion and work in tandem with the toolkit - including real world examples of projects and partnerships, with many speakers sharing their own innovative and creative approaches.
“It’s really important to share practice and see the details of how people are putting the framework into practice and how it’s helping guide their community involvement within research.” Fiona Pearson, Insights Programme Lead at the NIHR Innovation Observatory
“When we look to partner it is about long-term change. We work with the disabled community. It’s not about coming in and fixing the community, it’s about getting their voices heard to impact long term change. I always ask: what’s the outcome going to be and what change can we effect?” Vici Richardson, Chief Executive, Disability North
The event continued in the form of an open floor discussion with the goal of developing the basis for a regional code of practice, exploring the principles set out in the toolkit to generate ideas and key considerations for applying them in practice. The thought-provoking discussion covered how to develop equitable partnerships and ways to empower communities to shape how they are involved in research. Key themes that came up were honesty, respect, a true understanding of communities, communication and the importance of a mutually beneficial relationship.
“Researchers need to meet people and community organisations where they are in so many ways - location, language, communication and values - and also by aligning to what is important to that community.” Greta Brunskill, VCSE Health and Wellbeing Research Partnerships Coordinator, VONNE
The event wrapped up with some final thoughts and the setting of next steps for the development of regional the code of practice. There was an overwhelmingly positive response to the prospect of growing VCSE involvement in research which, alongside the toolkit and code of practice, bodes well for the future development of more effective and beneficial research partnerships.
Access the toolkit: Community Engagement Toolkit (rdsresources.org.uk)
Learn more about VONNE's VCSE Health and Wellbeing Research Partnerships work here on our Health and Wellbeing programme hub.