Environment & SustainabilityConnection, participation and empowerment in community-based research: the case of the transition movement.
Principal Investigator: Professor Rachel Pain (Durham University); Centre for Social Justice and Community Action
From 2012 to 2013
The project addressed issues identified by Transition Network through its experience of fielding interest from researchers. It documented experiences of Transition groups and researchers involved in research collaborations, created draft guidelines for Transition research, and initiated a broader project on supporting Transition groups to devise appropriate methods for monitoring and evaluation. Read more
Trade and traffic on the River Trent and associated waterways 1850-1970
Principal Investigator: Dr Richard Gaunt (Nottingham University)
From 2013 to 2014
The University of Nottingham is working with Newark Heritage Barge Charitable Incorporated Organisation (which is working to fit out a floating barge as a living museum) on a history of the river Trent from the coming of the railway in the mid-nineteenth century to the recent past. Read more
Meanwhile use as performance: Securing social value from vacant space
Principal Investigator: Andy Dearden (Sheffield Hallam University)
From 2012 to 2013
’Meanwhile’ use of temporarily vacant spaces is applied by many organisations to access cheap space during the recession. This project explored how community-based organisations could make the most effective use of these opportunities. We brought together community development practitioners, community groups, landlords, local authority representatives and ‘meanwhile’ brokers to explore issues. Read more
Networked communities as dynamic co-created learning environments
Principal Investigator: Professor Neil Ravenscroft
2013
Through a series of co-created and facilitated workshops and training programmes, Phase 1 of this project has brought facilitation practice into conversation with academic research methods to create a co-designed multi-method model for organising the generation of data about personal and community histories and associations. Read more
Memories of ‘Mr Seel’s Garden’: Engaging with historic and future food systems in Liverpool
Principal Investigator: Dr Michelle Bastian
From 2012 to 2013
On the outer edges of Liverpool ONE, a 42 acre regeneration area of the city centre, there is a Tesco Superstore. Read more
In conversation with…:co-designing with more-than-human communities
Principal Investigator: Dr Michelle Bastian; University of Edinburgh
From 2013 to 2014
The aim of this project is to explore how an expanded account of community – one which recognises the active participation of non-humans – might contribute to our understandings of how research can be co-designed and co-produced. Read more
Cambridge Community Heritage
Principal Investigator: Dr Carenza Lewis, University of Cambridge
From 2012 to 2013
In Cambridge Community Heritage (CCH) project (2012-13), ten University of Cambridge researchers in Archaeology, History, Heritage and Public Engagement collaborated in research with 37 community groups in eastern England. Read more
GEM (Grown, Edible, Meaningful)
Principal Investigator: Ann Light
From 2013 to 2014
The GEM project invited people to grow edible plants together to inspire reflection on environmental issues across cultures and faiths. Our team of researchers and community organisations wanted to know what different meanings growing food holds across different communities and to learn if this affects feelings towards the environment, ecological issues and other people. Read more
Foodscapes
Principal Investigator: Michael Buser, University of the West of England
2013
FOODSCAPES was an AHRC Connected Communities project that explored the use of art as a way of opening up discussion about food, food poverty and sustainable communities. Participants included Knowle West Media Centre, The Matthew Tree Project, the Edible Landscapes Movement, UWE Bristol, University of Southampton, the James Hutton Institute and Paul Hurley (artist-in-residence). Read more
Cultural Planning for Sustainable Communities
Principal Investigator: Graeme Evans
From 2013 to 2014
This 18 month research project aims to use cultural mapping and planning as a way to explain and value the relationship between arts & culture and the environment. Ideas of and behaviour towards the natural environment and ‘ecosystems’ tend to lack a cultural dimension, or include the cultural sector of arts organisations, artists and other ‘hidden’ community culture. Read more
