Regional Partnerships

This work has demonstrated that there are deeper, structural issues and barriers that often prevent these partnerships from being developed, including how funding is awarded, contracting and other processes within universities, and a lack of recognition for this type of approach. Communities, researchers and partners involved with The Ideas Fund have told us that they want to see these barriers and challenges addressed, to contribute to change and the enablement of an improved system.

How we are supporting embedding these types of changes that communities and researchers want to see in order for them to collaborate more easily

We knew this would require a different approach from supporting individual projects and partnerships. It meant focusing on the ‘system’ that can support or inhibit the work, then building on the connections, ideas and relationships that have been developed in the four areas that The Ideas Fund supports.

The funding process

In February 2022 we began to work with Collaborate CIC to develop this framework looking at the ‘indicators’ of a healthier system that could sit around these partnerships.

Taking advantage of our place-based approach and recognising the opportunity to support a more systems-focussed intervention, each area was supported through a series of collaborative workshops with stakeholders from both community focussed and academic institutions. These workshops looked at the learning coming out of the individual Ideas Fund projects and began developing local partnership proposals that would explore opportunities for sustainable change, whilst also generating significant learning for others in this space. Collaborate authored a series of blogs about this work, which can be found here.

These four regional partnerships, supported with funding from The Ideas Fund, focus on developing and embedding more equitable practice between the local community-based and academic institutions and are taking an approach that has been co-designed by stakeholders in the region. More information on each area’s approach can be found below:

Hull

The work in Hull is being delivered as a partnership between Timebank Hull and East Riding and the University of Hull. The online and in person community of practice is forging close bonds between community organisations and with the University, and has showcased the work of The Ideas Fund projects in the city. This activity will continue to shift and challenge traditional hierarchies around research, build a culture of knowledge exchange, and connect partners with existing initiatives and wider stakeholders. They have also hosted facilitated workshops to explore ethics processes within Knowledge Exchange at the University.

Highlands & Islands

In the Highlands & Islands, Science Ceilidh have led the process of establishing Community Knowledge Matters strengthening networks across the region, and developing peer leadership between community, researcher and decision makers through communities of practice. It is intended that this work will seek to level the power imbalance and build co-produced capacity for a relational approach, with training, policy engagement and resource development being undertaken, all guided by co-priority setting work with community groups that continues to prioritise those who have been marginalised. The first working group included members from the University of the Highlands and Islands, Youthlink Scotland, Third Sector Research Forum, Scottish Community Development Centre, Public Health Scotland, Scottish Policy and Research Exchange and the Scottish Public Engagement Network. It is facilitated by Science Ceilidh.

Northern Ireland

The project in Northern Ireland consists of a partnership between North West Community Network, Developing Health Communities and Ulster University, that looks to strengthen already existing relationships between community organisations and the University in order to develop an environment where equitable partnerships will thrive. Their work looks to broaden engagement, and increase participation from community groups and researchers who are new to this type of partnership working, whilst also exploring and adapting the processes within Ulster University to enable better working with communities. Together the partners have established the Community Research Collective to further deepen their partnership. Take a look at this blog on the Pivotal Platform to read Roisin McLaughlin from North West Community Network's reflections on working with The Ideas Fund.

Oldham

In Oldham Vocal, a not for profit organisation bringing people and health research closer together and Action Together Oldham the infrastructure organisation for the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise sector in Oldham, have joined forces. They are collaborating to create opportunities for researchers, local people, community organisations and system partners to work and learn together. The focus of their work is to support tackling health inequalities that are important to community members and partners.