Projects

Based on the Isle of Gigha, the 'Our Gigha and Me' project which finished at the end of 2022, looked at whether specific and community led interventions could help facilitate the wellbeing of children and families by encouraging more participatory engagement with nature, with the known benefits this can bring. The partnership with the researcher was extremely positive; particularly in identifying appropriate methodology to encourage community participation and empowering the project members to be confident in their ideas and decision making. Activities are based around the story of 'The Gigha Furboch'. The children and families hunt for the Furbochs using map references – when they find them and their little shepherds' hut they can take part in a range of nature based and wellbeing activities inside. There is a separate den for families to use as an outdoor meeting space, sheltering in a wooded area on the Island.

This project is centred around young people taking an active role in their community by using discarded plastic to create new objects that will help serve the community, such as sunglasses or kitchen utensils. Participants are working with Manchester Metropolitan University to develop a participatory approach for the activities, and build their understanding of the latest research and activities that are relevant to the project. By facilitating conversations between the young people and the wider community, the project is creating opportunities for reflection on mental wellbeing whilst encouraging creativity and sustainability.

The development of a horticultural programme is focusing on wellbeing to help reduce the social isolation of older people in Oldham. Participants are working with researchers to co-design the project to incorporate and focus on their needs whilst in a horticultural setting. The project is also running indoor sessions that incorporate ceramics, nature, food, and pot glazing to ensure the project can run throughout the year. There is also a focus on long-term legacy, as any horticultural programmes will be sustainable, and the learnings will be shared with the wider community.

As Hull's first and only gay and inclusive rugby club, the Hull Roundheads RUFC are exploring the barriers and stigma that exists in sport to LGBTIQ+ participation, by working with a researcher to help document stories and translating these into a live performance. The club are combining conversations with existing members alongside engagement from the wider LGBTIQ+ community to help design impactful approaches to story sharing and improved mental wellbeing.

Through interactive events and intimate conversations, Groundwork Yorkshire are facilitating the co-production of a project to support mental wellbeing among local women, in partnership with a researcher who has expertise in creative writing. These conversations are held alongside an exploration of creative writing, with the aim of participants developing speeches, stories, comedy sets or dramas to be published.

The HU4 Community Network Group have opened a café and community space to provide a hub for their Chatter Box Club, where all local residents can gather to support each other and share their stories. They are working with a researcher to help them identify gaps in support, and how to bridge them. The HU4 Community group are running a personal and approachable project to help combat issues such as social isolation and lack of accessible resources.

Butterflies Memory Support Loss Group, in partnership with the University of Hull, are exploring how behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia can affect the wellbeing of both people with dementia as well as their supporters. Butterflies are facilitating conversations amongst families, supporting the co-creation of resources, reducing stigma, and creating lasting links with researchers.

The Lyth Arts Centre in Caithness is facilitating this project using film and photography to empower young people to document their interactions with the coastline, and its positive effect on mental wellbeing. They are being joined by researchers with expertise in exploring surf therapy, the outdoors, and mental health and arts and wellbeing in rural communities, who are providing support with co-design and practice based action research. By developing a sense of community, belonging and identity, the participants are encouraged to demonstrate confidence and self-expression.

In the Highlands and Islands, access to appropriate support for survivors of out of hospital cardiac arrests can be challenging. Lucky2BHere, in conjunction with the Resuscitation Research Group from the University of Edinburgh, are using action research to foster group discussions in identifying and addressing the needs of survivors in this community. By engaging with survivors, their friends and families and other relevant community members, the conversations being facilitated are developing a support network and safe space for survivors and helping improve their mental wellbeing.

Supporting parents who have lived experience of perinatal and infant mental ill-health, this is a joint project run by three specialist organisations in Moray, including those with lived experience. They are building a supportive community and involving previously underrepresented groups, with training provided to peer researchers to identify existing evidence and capture qualitative lived experiences. By hosting wellbeing events and connecting with researchers, the project is building a supportive community and equipping them with the skills to embed a long-lasting support network, as well as raising a greater awareness in the community of perinatal mental health.

Run by the North Lands Creative Studio and supported by visiting artists and teaching staff, this project has been designed by and for young people to develop inspiring and interactive glass-making activities, with young people and staff being invited and trained to act as co-researchers. The project aims to explore how the process of glass-making and transformative art may lead to improved self-expression and managing emotions. The researcher is helping to devise strategies for the recruitment to their Youth Advisory Group and will eventually plan co-research and arts-focused activities.