In her latest update, SHW community engagement coordinator Susan Grant looks back on recent events where Byres Community Hub has supported links between community and research.

WHO’s Director General visits Byres Hub 

Byres Hub welcomed Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, The Director General of the World Health Organisation (WHO) on a tour of the School of Health and Wellbeing during a visit to Glasgow University to receive an honorary degree and to meet Global Health, Global Mental Health and Public Health MSc postgraduate students. Some of the students who are also Byres Hub volunteers have taken up Dr Tedros’ challenge to raise public awareness of the WHO’s Pandemic prevention, preparedness and response at our annual community day in June.  

Director General Tedros of WHO with staff of the School of Health and Wellbeing including Byres Hub Community Engagement Officer Susan Grant

Beyond the Canvas Anti Stigma Mental Health Arts Project 

The theme for International Women’s Day (IWD) 2024 was Inspiring Inclusion. On Friday 8th March, I joined another of our Master’s students and Empower Women for Change’s wellbeing volunteer, Farida Tukur at The Asylum Seeker Housing Project’s IWD event at The Albany Centre to launch a new project.  ‘Beyond the Canvas’ is a contemplative project supported by See Me Scotland. It will explore the diverse experiences of ethnic minority women as they navigate mental health stigma and discrimination through the therapeutic power of expressive art. Below is the link to register an interest in being part of this project which will exhibit in Byres Hub later this year. Participate in Beyond the Canvas.

Photo of a woman teaching students

Skill Sharing  

As part of the skill sharing objectives of Byres Hub and making connections between our researchers and hub groups, Jala Rizeq recently delivered a workshop to members of Central and West Integration Network (CWIN) on trauma informed community engagement. The workshop engaged CWIN staff and volunteers working with people affected by war displacement, and conflict-related traumas and post-integration trauma and stress. The first part of the workshop focussed on understanding key concepts, identifying traumatic events, reflecting on traumatic reactions, and identifying health promoting coping strategies. The role of volunteers and staff at the CWIN in the pathway to recovery was also reflected on. The second part of the workshop included a co-production activity, whereby the participants produced a set of guidelines for their organisation on how to interact with community members to be 'trauma- aware.' 

Facilitator had a great approach to the session from setting boundaries for discussion at the start and leading into co-producing guidelines at the end. Session felt like a very positive and informative experience.”      CWIN 

Jala said that she appreciated the opportunity to engage in meaningful collaborative work with community partners, increasing her sense of connection, responsibility, and belonging within the community.  

If you would like to hear more about this work, Jala Rizeq will also be speaking with community members, staff and students on the 8th of April, at our next Hub Monday ‘Trauma Talks’.  At this session, Jala will lead a discussion on trauma experience, including what it means and how it is expressed or observed.  This session is meant to offer a space for community organisations to discuss the trauma experiences relevant to the communities they work with and an opportunity to reflect on pathways to recovery.  

This follow’s Danielle Cairns and Elaine Hindle of the Population Health Research Facility’s Hub Monday on 26th February ‘Small data: hints and tips for data management and Dr Sharon Greenwood’s Hub Monday on 25th March on ‘Substance use and health and wellbeing (photo below).

Photo of Dr Sharon Greenwood sharing skills with a community group

Research Involvement 

Byres Hub has been continuing to support links between community and research including visitors to our monthly community drop-in (ALISS In Wowland) contributing ideas to a new research bid by our Health Economics and Health Technology Assessment group. Researchers can now promote engagement and involvement opportunities on Byres Community Hub’s website that can then be shared via our Hub newsletter. Fill in the form to submit a new opportunity or use the QR code below and email byreshub@glasgow.ac.uk to confirm submission.

QR code for researchers to submit their research to our website

  

 

New PPIE Guidance 

In bringing more diverse and representative voices in shaping our research activities and in knowledge exchange, people must be fairly compensated for their contribution. The National Institute for Health and Social Care Research (NIHR)’s payment guidance for researchers and professionals has been a key reference for compensating people for sharing their time and lived experience within our School. There is Payment guidance for researchers and professionals on the website. The Scottish Government has recently published guidance on paying PPIE (Patient Public Involvement and Engagement) participants in research to help Scottish Government staff make decisions about paying the expenses and compensating people for time involved in research and participatory activity.

Poverty awareness for research and engagement activities  

Heightened by the cost-of-living crisis, we as engagement practitioners and researchers have to be thinking and talking about poverty when designing engagement activities to as far as possible remove barriers to participation and not exasperate inequalities. I have been working with Kait Laughlin, College of Social Sciences Knowledge Exchange Lead (Communities) on this issue. Kait joined us for Hub Monday on 12th February to open up this conversation about poverty awareness for research and engagement activities.   

As part of a new knowledge exchange and impact working group at the university, we have been sharing our own experiences and those of colleagues of working with individuals and groups beyond academia.  The groups aim of exploring and developing guidance around ethics, safeguarding, and awareness of power dynamics (especially financial) in partnerships with external organisations and individuals in knowledge exchange activities. Kait and I would be happy to speak to any researchers who want to share their experience of university processes and procedures to support ethical knowledge exchange so please do get in touch. 

Also in this aim, Kait has developed a researcher development programme ‘Community Matters’ for CoSS researchers and she has extended an invitation to SHW researchers to join her and Professor Les Back on the next session in Clarice Pears on 18th April entitled ‘Working Together (the Elephants in the Room) to talk ‘Poverty’ and ‘Social Class’.   I contributed to the previous session around meaningful engagement and partnerships and I recommend getting involved to reflect on your own practice and share some ideas and learn from other participants.  See below for more information and to register for the in-person session in April or the online session in May.   

Thursday 18th April, 1-2.30, Room 146, Clarice Pears Building, Main Campus 

Session information and register

Friday 3rd May, 11-12.30, Zoom 

Session information and register 

The Art of Gathering Development Opportunity  

Friday 26th April 10am – 12noon, Clarice Pears 

Powerful gatherings don’t happen by magic; they require thoughtful preparation: what is the purpose of the gathering, who should be invited, and what kind of structures (in time and space) will create the kind of atmosphere you want? 

 

The Engagement Coordinators network invite you to ‘The Art of Gathering’ workshop where facilitator, Shoshana Boyd Gelfand from The Pears Foundation will present some of the insights of Priya Parker and her framework for creating meaningful gatherings including: identifying the purpose of the gathering, preparing the participants for the experience, crafting a powerful opening moment and closing the gathering well. 

This development opportunity is for staff at University of Glasgow who are involved in planning and delivering engagement events with public audiences. You can register via the event listing or using the QR code below:

 QR code to find out more about Art of Gathering Development

Thank you to Amy Braier of the Pears Foundation and UofG Development and Alumni for this wonderful connection.  

ScotPEN Gathering 

Speaking of gatherings, a shout out to join engagement folks from across Scotland at the The Scottish Public Engagement Network (ScotPEN)’s annual gathering on Thursday 23rd May 2024 at The University of Aberdeen from 10am – 4pm.  The focus for the day will be on ‘engagement for lasting impact’. There is an Eventbrite to register.

Question for the Doughnut Doodle Wall 

Recent questions on the Doodle Wall have been: What is the best thing that happened to you today?; Why is work good for your health?; How can universities best support communities?  Join in on the discussion in Byres Hub and if you have an idea for a future question, please do get in touch byreshub@glasgow.ac.uk   

Chronicles of St Mungo’s Square 

To finish this month’s Hawkeye blog, I am delighted to share the next instalment of The Chronicles of St Mungo’s Square by Aileen Paterson of The Scribble Creative Writers.

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See photos of some of our meeting rooms on our website

Contact

E: byreshub@glasgow.ac.uk 
X: UofGByresHub
W: www.gla.ac.uk/byrescommunityhub 

Susan Grant 
SHW Community Engagement Coordinator
Susan.G.Grant@glasgow.ac.uk 

First published: 22 April 2024

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