Category: Funding

Professor Federico Caprotti and Dr Whitney Pailman share updates on their work exploring the relationship between community resilience, entrepreneurship, economic mobility and navigating infrastructure disruptions in urban, informal settlements in South Africa. With support from the Engaged and Participatory Research Fund, the researchers worked closely with local residents and policymakers.

In her blog piece, Amy Chinner-Evans draws on recent Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement, which aimed to address uncertainty in medical decision-making. Working with patients with multiple long-term health conditions (MLTCs), her collaboration will inform ongoing research as part of her wider PhD programme.

Dr Mary O’Leary shares the work behind her recent application to Parkinson’s UK, exploring how nutritional interventions can support aspects of Parkinson’s symptom management. Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) Funding helped ensure lived experience could be brought into this work, inviting collaboration throughout the research process.

Tim Hughes tells us about recent work completed with Loveland, a community field project based in Falmouth, which invites local people to get involved in food growth and sustainability. With support from our Bridging Communities Fund, Loveland’s work has continued to grow, inviting new audiences to explore their natural surroundings.

Dr Safi Darden talks about her recent project, B-HUGS, supported as part of the 2024-25 Engaged and Participatory Research Fund. This work draws on interdisciplinary expertise, looking to address rissues of educational belonging for Black youth in Devon.

Dr Darren Hudson highlights the importance of Public and Patient Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) funding in supporting his team’s application for the NIHR Team Science Award. By working with PPIE representatives from conception of the work, the team’s proposal could be grounded in the needs of those with lived experience, and encourage meaningful change.

Dr Helen Birkett tells us about how Engaged and Participatory Research Funding helped support the LGBTQ+ Schools Champions Scheme. Working with Dr Chris Sandal-Wilson, and major local charity, Intercom Trust, the project has explored new avenues for engaging young people with LGBTQ+ history, and encouraging belonging amongst LGBTQ+ pupils.

Professor Manuela Barreto and Camilla Rooney from Wellmoor share insights from their Social Health Learning Project – a collaboration between University researchers and community partners to explore social health interventions in East Devon. Having been shortlisted for the 2024-25 round of Engaged and Participatory Research Funding, this work was supported by an alternative funding source, as it tackled ambitions closely linked to the University’s Civic University Agreements.

Dr Kristin Liabo, Beccy Summers, and Professors Heike Roms, and Kerrie Schaefer discuss insights gained from recent work supported by the Engaged and Participatory Research Fund. This project collaborated with staff and students to identify strategies for supporting engagement with school-based education.

Dr Tomas Chaigneau tells us about his research with co-applicants Giulia Nicolini, Kerry Holbrook, and Ruth Klückers, investigating the role of communities in Cornwall’s seaweed farming industry. Their use of the 2024-25 Engaged and Participatory Research Fund helped to incorporate stakeholder perspectives, and engage both industry professionals and local communities in this project.