Community Renewal and Recovery - University of Birmingham

The Community Renewal and Recovery theme examines the complex ways in which wellbeing takes shape in diverse places and spaces and how the notion of community is mobilised in wellbeing policy and practice.

Communities are becoming a popular policy focus for improving wellbeing. However, the effects of spatially targeted interventions are much debated, as well as the definition of communities itself. What makes a strong community, how can trust, mutual support and belonging be fostered, and who might be excluded from particular communities?

In the wake of the Covid pandemic, we aim to identify new ways of addressing structural wellbeing inequalities within and between communities. How do wellbeing relationships between communities, local authorities and third sector organisations develop, and how are communities engaged, represented and involved in decision-making around wellbeing?

Community of Practice for Community Engaged Research

The discussion group sessions are organised as part of the development of a University of Birmingham Community of Practice for Community Engaged Research. There is a growing network of colleagues across the University who are collaborating with communities through co-production, action research, participatory research, and community engagement. The aim of the Community of Practice is to facilitate participants in sharing approaches, findings, and outputs of past and ongoing projects to develop mutual understanding, connections and support. Together with the Community Collaborations Network and the Public Engagement with Research Team we are organising a broader programme of discussion group sessions, workshops, and training to develop a shared vision, resources, and strategy for supporting meaningful engagement and structural change.

Research Activities, Projects and Networks

We offer a diversity of disciplinary perspectives and experiences from across the University, including:

Social Prescribing, Assets and Relationships in Communities (SPARC) Network

The SPARC Network is a cross-institutional collaborative learning space of academic partners from the University of Birmingham, Bangor University, and the University of Strathclyde and practice partners from The Active Wellbeing Society (TAWS) Birmingham, Wirral ABCD Network, and Gwent Public Health. It is distinctly focused on asset-based approaches to social prescribing, addressing health inequalities, and coproducing a social model of wellbeing. It aims to be a space to share experiences, knowledge, and developments, identify opportunities for collaboration, research and change, and engage in ongoing relationship-building and learning.

Research Better Together

This project shares knowledge on participatory research, facilitates stronger connections between social care researchers and voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations in Birmingham, and delivers training and support to researchers on participatory methodologies. It is led by Kelly Hall and Caroline Jackson with Birmingham Voluntary Service Council (BVSC), Co-Production Works and Communicate2U.

Mindset Revolution

Mindset Revolution is about young people creating their own spaces of participation, where they can build a collective voice that can be heard loud and clear by mental health services and policymakers. It is led by a group of young people who are empowering youth voice to better mental health services and policies for 16-25-year olds. They combine arts-based methods like Legislative Theatre and a digital participation process to test a new approach to youth participation.

‘Our Bigger Story’ evaluation of Big Local

Our Bigger Story is an innovative, multimedia study that has followed 15 Big Local areas over 10 years.

Major events legacies for disadvantaged communities and individuals

This ongoing research project examines the legacies of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games for disadvantaged individuals and communities. It is led by Dr Shushu Chen, Dr Mary Quinton, Dr Jet Veldhuijzen van Zanten and Dr Mark Lee. An Institute of Advanced Studies workshop took place on Wednesday 14th September 2022 at the University of Birmingham, and included internal and external academics in presentations and discussions to explore opportunities for wider collaborative and cross-disciplinary research.

Communities responding to COVID-19

Commissioned by Local Trust, this in-depth research explores how communities across England have responded to, and are recovering from, COVID-19. The study is being undertaken by a coalition of researchers, led by the Third Sector Research Centre (TSRC). It explores how different communities have fared during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings, alongside multiple outputs from the research, provide an insight into the impact of crisis on communities, and the factors shaping their resilience, response and recovery.

Mobilising UK Voluntary Action during COVID-19

The project explores voluntary action responses to the pandemic across the four UK nations.

Resources

Reflections on discussion group sessions - We have created a library of reflections on the key insights and lessons of the discussion group sessions we organised over the past years.

9DF: a nine-dimensional framework for community engagement This article explains how we can adopt a more community-oriented approach to evaluation of community engagement.

Community-led education on living diversity This conversation with photographer, artist and activist Dr Vanley Burke offers an insight into how photography can facilitate community-led education on migration, identity, and race.

Dudley Zoo Community Wellbeing Strategy A presentation by Jack Williams and Eve Carter, part of the education team at Dudley Zoo, about their plans to build a Community Wellbeing Strategy. In a consultation event, we discussed these plans and offered advice on how to develop the strategy by taking a community-driven approach to collaboration and evaluation.

Theme lead

Dr Koen P.R. Bartels (Departmental Director of Research - Department of Public Administration and Policy)

Deputy theme lead

Dr Gerald Jordan (Assistant Professor - School of Psychology)