In her latest update, SHW community engagement coordinator Susan Grant reports back on an important day for our building, our teams, and the Byres Community Hub...

 picture of attendees at the Byres Community Hub community day in June 2023 viewing posters

On a sunny afternoon on Saturday 10 June 2023, we opened our doors and welcomed our neighbours, colleagues, friends and family to come and see around our Byres Community Hub and meet some of the people who work within the Clarice Pears building.

Over 170 members of the public engaged with 40 staff, students, and partners across 12 different stations representing research from all six groups within our school and our Glasgow’s Health Exhibition.

 picture of attendees at the Byres Community Hub community day in June 2023 viewing display

Our fascinating and diverse range of stalls and exhibits, designed and run by our units/research groups, included:

  • Mental Health and Wellbeing
    Coping with Global Stressors
    Cancer Research Voting Booth
    Psychosis and Me
  • Scottish Learning Disabilities Observatory
    This is Me: Valuing the lives of people with learning disabilities
    The 'Game of Life' but not as you know it with Drumming for Change film
  • Robertson Centre for Biostatistics and Public Health
    The Rhythm of Life
  • MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit
    Best Start in Life
    Exploring Glasgow's neighbourhoods
  • Health Economics and Health Technology Assessment
    Health Minister for the Day with Byres Hub Donought Doodle Wall and Decorate a Piggy Bank
  • General Practice and Primary Care
    Balance the Scales
    QUEST Health makes waves at home with School of Engineering

We were also pleased to be joined by University of Glasgow Sport and Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland’s Maryhill Health Defence Hub and supported by SRC Volunteers. Both visitors and volunteers seemed to enjoy themselves and there were lots of great discussions about our research. One attendee said that it was "really nice to be welcomed into this new space" and another commented on the "friendly people" and that things were "well explained".

Photo of a young child participating in an activity at the Clarice Pears community day in June 2023

The Hub is really proud that this event was part of two cultural festivals happening in the City in June: Glasgow Science Festival and WestFest.

Thank you to everyone who made this event possible in the organisation and delivery including MVLS Design, University of Glasgow Printing Services, Facilities Zone 1 and a special thank you to members of the School’s Community Engagement with Research Group, Asha Costigan and Ruby Cadman and of course to everyone who came along. I hope together we did help "Glasgow Feel Good".

Image of the Creative Health and Wellbeing Glasgow Community Trail

In partnership with North West Glasgow Voluntary Sector Network (NWGVSN), Byres Hub’s first display tower exhibition is now available to view on level one of Clarice Pears. Thank you to all the community projects who have provided artworks and artefacts for this exhibition. The online catalogue on the tower’s "bounce pad" will allow you to find out more about the incredible exhibits and organisations showcased.

picture of researchers at the Byres Community Hub community day in June 2023 standing next to a stall

We were also delighted to host the network at the end of May in Byres Community Hub which included a networking lunch followed by a listening event with elected representatives about The Glasgow Communities Fund and members update meeting. The event coincided with a very busy Community Funders Fair across in the ARC organised by the engagement teams in the ARC and Clarice Pears. This allowed members from over 30 different organisations to attend both events and see the range of facilities available to them on the university’s Western Campus.

Contact

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

Susan Grant 
SHW community engagement coordinator
Susan.G.Grant@glasgow.ac.uk 


First published: 15 June 2023