From analysing racism to exploring horticulture in cancer support, a host of impactful community projects have been announced as the recipients of the University of Plymouth’s Get Involved Awards.
The awards were launched this year by the University’s Research and Innovation team – designed to bring communities and researchers together to find sustainable solutions to local problems.
Organisations with PL postcodes were invited to submit expressions of interest to collaborate with the University on a short, specific project. Following a facilitation day to meet researchers and develop ideas, six projects have now received between £6,000 and £8,000 to implement their work through research and make a difference:
1. Assessing the Impact of Racist Incidents on the community in Plymouth – Dr Chris Pac Soo, and Lavinia Porfir, Plymouth & Devon Racial Equality Council
2. Blooming Well - Designing a community-based horticulture therapy group for clients with a cancer diagnosis that promotes recovery and well-being – Dr Alison Warren and Annie Price, Blooming Well, Mustard Tree
3. Gendered Interpretations of Saltram House, National Trust Treasure House: LGBTQ+ Identities, Inclusion and Relevance: Professor James Daybell and Annie Winsland, Public Engagement Manager National Trust
4. Skate to the Max – Raising awareness on skate safety – Dr Diego Zamora, Blair Graham and Tracey Swan, SkatetotheMAX
5. An Action Based Evaluation of Mindful Art Club (MAC) in Plymouth – Dr Helen Lloyd and Emma Sprawson, Peggy Melmoth, Mindful Art Club
6. Evidencing Crazy Glue and Socially Engaged Arts Practice in Plymouth Schools – Miranda Cunningham, and Lily Urbanska Take a Part CIO
Allice Hocking, Head of Research Impact and Partnerships at the University of Plymouth, explained why the awards are so important.
“We want to ensure that our research skills and expertise are working to make a difference in Plymouth and the surrounding area,” she said. “We launched the Get Involved Awards to engage further with the issues faced within our communities and we were so pleased to see such a diverse array of research ideas submitted by local groups.
“Each community partner brings so much expertise and knowledge to the partnership and is equally valued in the process as a researcher.
"Most importantly, the research will enable communities in the city to identify opportunities and solve problems, develop new partnerships with the University’s researchers and their community counterparts, and support future funding applications in the city.”
The projects run from now until December, with community partners able to access the University’s support, resources and services to develop their research skills.
Research will be conducted from June to December 2022, with case studies produced to share the learning of the research and its impact for the community. A gala ceremony will then follow at the University on 7 December.
For more information on the Get Involved Awards or the University’s public engagement work, contact getinvolvedawards@plymouth.ac.uk