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Edition 3 - April 2025

Welcome to the latest edition of the
Blackpool Researching Together newsletter!

Keep reading to find out more about our visit from the NIHR, project updates, upcoming events and hear first hand how being part of the HDRCs is already impacting our local community.
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Welcoming the NIHR to Blackpool
Earlier this month we were pleased to welcome NIHR Public Health Research (PHR) Programme Director, Professor Brian Ferguson, to Blackpool.

The team created a 'market place' to showcase all the work we've been doing in the town and it was a great way to engage in open conversations about our experiences as a HDRC so far.

Our community co-researchers closed the day with a presentation highlighting why Blackpool is in need of change and the importance of HDRC's on a town like ours.

Thank you to everyone who attended and made the day such a great success! 
Read more
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Impact on the local community
We’re highlighting the amazing impact Health Determinant Research Collaborations (HDRCs) are having on local communities.

Meet Siobhan, she was a stay at home mum of three when she joined our team as a community co-researcher in 2023.

The skills she learned have enabled her to follow her passion of supporting disadvantaged communities by starting a ‘Chat and Play’ group for local families in her area. She has also gone back into education and completed a college course, now progressing to a degree course.

Siobhan has now used the skills she has developed in the Blackpool Researching Together team to successfully apply for a new role as a community engagement officer in her local area.
Read more
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Training opportunities
Our research associate Amelia recently ran a series of 'introduction to research' training sessions for our co-researchers and wider collaborators.

The sessions focused on the different aspects of research including:
  • Research ethics
  • Qualitative vs quantitative data
  • Research design
  • Data collection
  • Data analysis
  • Critical appraisal
We're always looking for opportunities to help our team develop and will be sharing more training sessions soon!
Project updates
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Cosy Homes in Lancashire evaluation
Working with PHIRST Fusion Research, the team have been evaluating who is benefitting most from the Cosy Homes in Lancashire (CHiL) scheme currently and if there are people most in need who are missing out on this opportunity.

The team previously carried out interviews with the local community to gather information about what helps or causes a barrier on the uptake of these schemes using a range of evaluation methods.

We're now analysing the information that has been collected during interviews, along with data routinely collected as part of the CHiL scheme.
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Exercise referral scheme review
We've been working with Active Blackpool to co-design an exercise referral pathway to improve uptake of the current exercise referral scheme.

We previously ran two workshops with a mixture of exercise practitioners and community participants of the scheme, to understand the current barriers to accessing the scheme and completion of the programme. 

We've now analysed the information and presented the findings back to the participants. Everyone put on their thinking hats to provide valuable feedback on our recommendations and we're hoping the scheme can continue to be a success for local residents!
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Upcoming events
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Spring into Spring events
The Spring into Spring events are 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.

This year there's a whole week of FREE events taking place at various locations across the town.

Come along to find out what the community has to offer, alongside help and support. You can chat to the team to find out more about the work we're doing to create a better Blackpool!

We'll be attending the following sessions:
  • Wednesday 14 May – Revoelution Hub, Ibbison Court, 2.30pm to 5.30pm
  • Thursday 15 May – Claremont Park Community Centre, Claremont Rd, 2:00pm to 5:00pm
  • Thursday 15 May – Moor Park Health and Leisure Centre, Bristol Avenue, 2.00pm to 6.00pm
  • Friday 16 May – Blackpool Sports Centre, West Park Drive, 11.00am to 3.00pm
Find out more
Co-researchers gathered around a desk at an event. The background is in a library setting with books on shelves, there is also a 'wider determinants of health' roller banner behind the group.
Community blog - International Womens Day
Last month a group of our co-researchers went to Blackpool Sixth Form College to celebrate International Women’s Day.

The team went to speak to students about our four priority areas and where they think research is missing for local women, young people and students. We had some really wonderful suggestions and ideas from the students and found out some really interesting concerns from 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
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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.