National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC) Blackpool logo.
Purple jigsaw with Blackpool Reseaching Together written on top in white.
Edition 1 - November 2024

Welcome to the first Blackpool Researching Together newsletter!

In this edition we will be introducing the team, sharing more about the work we've been doing so far and inviting you to attend our Annual Learning Event.
Who is Blackpool Researching Together?
We are a health inequalities research project known nationally as the Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC) Blackpool. The scheme has been awarded 5 years of funding by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). 

Health inequalities are unfair and avoidable differences in health between groups of people. Blackpool Researching Together will use the day to day experiences of Blackpool residents to inform decisions about how council and health services are designed and delivered. 

By supporting access to research and creating new research, Blackpool Researching Together will help to find out exactly why health inequalities exist and how we can transform our services and systems to work better for our local communities. 

By putting the community at the heart of the project, we can work together to find ways for everyone to have the chance to lead happier and healthier lives.
Collage of Blackpool Researching Together team member headshots.
Meet the Team
Blackpool Researching Together is a partnership between Blackpool Council, Lancaster University, the local community, the voluntary sector and Blackpool Teaching Hospitals.

We’re proud that our team is made up of researchers, professionals and community members to give everyone’s voice a chance to be heard.
Find out more
Events
Blackpool Researching Together team members at an event standing with a table and banner.
Active into Autumn
The team recently attended the Active into Autumn event at Blackpool's Winter Gardens.

The event was organised by Blackpool Place Based Partnership, a group that brings together NHS organisations, local authority and voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise sector colleagues to deliver Health and Social Care in Blackpool.

It was a great way to meet the community and discuss what help and support is available to our local residents, while also talking more about the work we're doing to create a better Blackpool!
FUSE International Conference
Dr Bronia Arnott presenting at the Fuse International Conference stood at a lectern with big screen.
As part of our work on the Cosy Homes in Lancashire (CHiL) evaluation, we were really excited to get the opportunity to present at the Fuse International Conference at Cornell University College in New York!

Dr Bronia Arnott, NIHR PHIRST Fusion team, presented at the conference in person to discuss the importance of co-researching when looking at public health projects. The Blackpool Researching Together community co-researchers also recorded short videos to share their experiences working on the project.
Blackpool & The Fylde College Freshers Fair
Group of community co-researchers hosting a stall at the Blackpool and The Fylde College Freshers Fair.
Our co-researchers attended Blackpool and The Fylde College Freshers Fair to showcase the work we are doing to the local students. During the event they were also able to network with other organisations, which was useful for the mutual sharing of information.

It's important that we're able to connect with various members of the community to make sure everyone has the opportunity to input into our work!
Read more
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Attend our Annual Learning Event
You're invited to our Annual Learning Event on Wednesday 27 November 2024, 9.30am - 4pm at Blackpool Football Club.

This year’s theme will be “Co-production within research” focusing on the importance of co-producing research and how we are working together with our local community to share their lived experience and help influence services and systems.
Find out more
Community co-researchers gathered outside in the sunshine.
Want to hear more from our co-researchers?
Well now you can with the new community blog!

A space to share their journey and keep you up-to-date with the important work they are doing to ensure community voices are heard throughout this project.
Find out more
Co-producing research the Blackpool Way leaflets.
Co-producing Research - The Blackpool way
Over the last 10 years, Blackpool has been developing and embedding a whole town approach to co-producing change.

Our new guide discusses how Blackpool has moved from a consultation-based approach where we ask residents what they think about policies, systems and services, to what we would define as authentic co-production, where people with lived experience are at the heart of changing services and systems, to improve the lives of our community.
Read more
Keep in touch
Website: www.blackpool.gov.uk/ResearchingTogether
Email: HDRC@blackpool.gov.uk
Don't forget to follow our social media for all the latest news!
Blackpool Council   |   PO Box 4  |   Blackpool   |   FY1 1NA
Blackpool Researching Together partner logos.
The NIHR Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC) Blackpool is part of the NIHR and hosted by Blackpool Council. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.

NIHR Health Determinants Research Collaborations enable local authorities to become more research-active, embedding a culture of evidence-based decision making.