Welcome to the Cumberland HDRC June update!
Our community co-researcher recruitment has now closed and we’ve had so many fantastic applications. Thank you for everyone who took the time to apply and share their interest in joining the team.
We’ll be back to update you when our new team members are settling in.
Thank you to everyone who joined us last week for our conference Partners in Practice: Co-Producing Research That Reflects Real Lives. We heard from a fantastic range of speakers, each bringing different perspectives and experiences that sparked some great discussions around the day's theme of co-production.
It was a day full of meaningful conversations, learning and collaboration on topics such as making co‑production work in practice, co-producing funding applications, facilitation techniques, ethics in community research and co-production in local authority practice.
Thank you again to our speakers:
-
Dr Jae-Llane Ditchburn, Lianna Barrie and Mike Siddall from our team here at Cumberland HDRC
-
Dr Suzanne Wilson, University of Lancashire
-
Chantahl Rodwell, Cumberland Council & Professor Tom Grimwood, University of Cumbria
-
Aviel Lowndes, Blackpool HDRC
-
Elizabeth Harper, Westmorland and Furness Council & Dr Lula Mečińska, Lancashire County Council
And to our wonderful attendees who shared their insights, questions and stories for a day full of curiosity, connection and creativity.
We'll be sharing more highlights and key takeaways on our socials just in time for Co-Production Week 2026.
Data Analyst Peter headed down to the Global AI Cities 2026 Conference in Manchester to explore how AI is transforming urban services. It was a fantastic opportunity to hear insights from industry experts about how AI is being used, and particularly enjoyed the discussions around 'Using AI to Improve Citizen Experience of Local Services' and 'Making City Data Useable for AI'.
Diversity in research is shaped by identity, experience, pathways, and ways of knowing. When research reflects this diversity, it becomes stronger, more relevant, and more capable of developing meaningful solutions to today's challenges. This project by Picture This Research and illustration by Caroline Chapple invites viewers to see themselves reflected in the different journeys of research and discovery. Follow the link to find out more and download the graphic to help tell your own story or research journey.
It's Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) annual Co-Production Week!
Running from Monday 29 June to Friday 3 July, this week is all about championing the power of co-production in shaping better, more inclusive social care. This year’s theme is Care Equity exploring what it means to ensure that everyone, regardless of their background, identity or circumstances, has equal access to high-quality social care.
Co-Production Week highlights how working in genuine partnership leads to stronger, more responsive services. It brings together people who use services, carers, practitioners and organisations to share learning, inspire good practice, and spark important conversations about the future of care.
Make sure you’re following SCIE’s media channels for announcements on how you can get involved.
Who isn’t in the room – and why?
Join Social Care Institute for Excellence on Tuesday 30th June 13:30 – 15:00 for their webinar on how to reach and involve communities whose voices are too often unheard. Featuring real examples from local authorities and insights from lived experience, it highlights what inclusive co-production looks like in practice.
Leave with fresh ideas and practical approaches to make your work more inclusive and impactful!
How do we move from saying lived experience matters to truly valuing it
Friday 3rd July 14:00 – 15:30
As part of Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE)’s Co-production Week 2026, hear from a powerful panel around how to tackle the realities of recognition, payment and fairness in co-production. Explore challenges such as benefits, power and trauma-informed practice and help define what good looks like.
Expect honest discussion, practical solutions and clear calls to action!
In addition to our newsletter, we also share news on our LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. You can also find us on Cumbria Observatory.
You can always find us at the end of an email so don’t hesitate to contact us at hdrc@cumberland.gov.uk with any questions, comments or if you’d like to invite us round for a cup of tea and a catch up. We love being invited to any events that might be a good fit or let us know if we can use your space and always eager to chat with the people who use your services!
|
