Sharing Learning

Aligning with the “5 steps to metal wellbeing”, an evidenced based approach used by the NHS, this project is helping improve the social capital, mental wellbeing, and social connections of LGBTIQ+ individuals in the Scottish Highlands through sport and physical activity. Researchers will run research skills training alongside this, to help the community develop their own pilot plans. Facilitated by LEAP Sports Scotland, the partnership is tackling both personal and structural barriers that exist in public spaces by running regular peer support and networking events. The project will work closely with partners across the region to reduce barriers to sport and facilities for the LGBTIQ+ community.

The Oldham Athletic Community Trust is bringing together retired and elderly fans from the local area to chat and reminisce about their memories of Oldham Athletic Football Club to combat growing isolation amongst the community, with researchers from the University of Leeds and the University of Reading sharing information including tips and suggestions about boosting memory, physical activity and wellbeing in retirement. Participants are shaping the conversation and highlighting the needs of the community, whilst also engaging in social activities that improve mental wellbeing.

Through their project, Menopaus'ull Support Network, Neighbourhood Network sought to educate women about menopause and perimenopause, offer non-medical services to enhance women’s mental wellbeing whilst they navigate this stage of life, along with support for premenopausal and postmenopausal women. For their extension, they collaborated with Dr Lucy Fielding (University of Hull) and involved their research participants with lived experiences in all stages from the initial discussions, planning, and potentially delivery of what direction this piece of work takes. They continued sharing stories, collated them and used them to create a theatre production that premiered in Hull in June 2025.
They shared that “The main impact of the ideas fund support on Neighbourhood Network is that we have been able to take an idea and develop it into a credible, fundable, dependable project, that eventually could become a charity in its own right.”
Neighbourhood Network also reflects that, “Collaborating with researchers has opened doors for interest from other universities and their research teams

This project aims to reconnect young people living in urban areas with their wild selves through running a range of activities in local wild spaces focused on fostering nature connection and positive mental wellbeing. Young people are supported by researchers from the University of Hull to co-create a research programme which measures the effectiveness of the project through utilising creative participatory research methods.

This is a community led, intergenerational project, aiming to connect everyone in the local community from the primary school to the nursing home.
The project is creating an audiovisual trail by recording sounds, stories and images, as well as documenting people’s connection to the outdoors. They are working with a researcher to help maximise the quality of data gathered from events and better understand the experiences of the community who participate. This project runs a wide variety of activities including walks, talks and Nature Art activities, to help improve mental wellbeing and foster connection between the local residents of all ages to help protect their local identity and culture.

The Open Space Project is focused on creating a new, unique drop-in café for young people on the Shetland Islands, to act as a safe space to combat isolation and develop connections. The young people participating in this project are leading the project in designing what kind of space they want, and are supported by researchers offering their advice and expertise. The café is empowering young people through community participation and leadership opportunities.

This project is bringing women together through both horticulture and digital literacy to help improve both physical and mental wellbeing.
Participants are working with a researcher who will help to develop digital skills and share analytical skills with participants in order for them to chart the story of the She Shed. Programmes like the ‘Wellbeing Naturally’ Course, which combines gardening in a polytunnel with therapeutic practices, alongside additional activities promoting learning about healthy eating, food sustainability, and digital skills, are enabling the project to reach those in a rural community to combat isolation and provide residents with new skills..

Working with adult community members in two main age groups- 19+ and 40+, this project examines the benefits of time spent outdoors on mental wellbeing.
Working with a researcher will enable them to develop an approach with the community to measure and co-design the activities that participants go through. Two programmes are running to help establish a connection between the community members and the natural surroundings in their local area: Air (walking and woodland exploration) with mature adults, and Water (water-sports and swimming) with young adults.

This project is set out in two 10 week periods to provide support to survivors of mother and baby institutions. It will give those affected an opportunity for creative expression.
From painting to performances, the sessions are facilitated by an experienced theatre practitioner and a researcher using a trauma informed lens. The group are working with the researcher to develop their skills around research protocols and receiving guidance on the format of the project. The project is being co-designed by the participants and is using the arts as a way of improving mental wellbeing.

The Junction received funding from the Ideas Fund to work alongside a group of young adults in Northwest Northern Ireland to develop a storytelling education programme and resource, using storytelling as a tool for mental wellbeing.
Currently in their extension, they continue to work with a group of young peer researchers to further explore storytelling as a method and also reflect on the indicators of “community of support” approaches and how they can contribute to good mental well-being. They believe this was a key characteristic of their work in the first phase. Their research partner for the extension is Dr Jen Goddard from Ulster University, who was member of the peer leader group from the beginning of the project.

This group was funded to create a Bereavement Forest school and literature project to support young people aged 6-17years experiencing grief and loss and to provide ‘active support’ to improve emotional wellbeing. In their extension phase, they explored how they could further support these young people's emotional well-being beyond the 4-week programme developed in the initial phase. Currently working with Dr Alex Wray (St John University, York), their extension centred on creating a safe and supportive space for young people experiencing grief and loss. The project culminated in the creation of an animation that premiered at Hull Truck Theatre in May 2025.