Material and resources

Learning to make a difference 3

Case studies that link University of Brighton and its local communities - published May 2017

The case studies demonstrate both the variety and complementary nature of our approach. They include a diversity of methods and a wide variety of activities, whether involving community organisations in research; experiential learning that connects students and local communities or empowering individuals who get engaged with the university for the first time. They are concerned with storytelling and using digital media as mechanisms for improving health and tackling social exclusion of young people; improving access to public transport with people with learning disabilities; an economic and social audit of third sector activity; as well as international links with universities undertaking similar work in Canada and

Ethiopia. I hope that students, staff, alumni and community partners will take inspiration from the case studies. The work is not without its challenges but these stories demonstrate what is possible with active collaboration and a commitment to learning from each other to make a difference.

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Learning from On Our Doorsteps

An evaluation of CUPP's Seed Funding Programme between 2010-12, published February 2017

On Our Doorsteps is operated by University of Brighton’s CUPP (the Community University Partnership Programme). CUPP has been in place since 2003 and has since then developed and overseen a very wide range of types of community engagement, locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. On Our Doorsteps was developed as a variant of tried and tested models and introduced in 2010 in order to give particular emphasis to working with the university’s immediately neighbouring communities.

The programme is based on three main ideas: being a good neighbour; realising the mutual benefit achievable through community-university partnerships; and focusing on activities within the immediate localities of University of Brighton campus buildings. Bids were invited annually from partnerships of university staff and community organisations for projects which could meet these aims.

This document summarises the findings from a detailed evaluation of three years of early seed fund activity, and the learning from it that might help shape future work.

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Learning to Make a Difference

Student-community engagement and the higher education curriculum 2014 by Juliet Millican and Tom Bourner

Of equal importance to international academic and community audiences interested in learning partnerships, this comprehensive guide presents the latest thinking and innovations in development and professional practice in student-community engagement.

Published by NIACE this book is now available to download for free.

On Our Doorsteps 2010-12: Summary Report and Analysis

This paper reviews the character and achievements of three cycles of a particular university-community engagement programme, On Our Doorsteps, which was run at the University of Brighton in the years 2010 - 2012 inclusive. 

On Our Doorsteps was developed as a variant of tried and tested models and introduced in 2010 in order to give particular emphasis to working with the university’s immediately neighbouring communities. 

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Learning to make a difference 2

Overview:

This selection of case studies provides a deep insight into the ever widening range of the University of Brighton's social engagement activities and of our links with our local neighbourhoods and communities.

Each year our students and staff engage in an increasingly diverse set of projects in partnership with local and regional community groups, many of these supported by the expertise and experience of the staff of the university's Community University Partnership Programme (CUPP).

Publication date: August 2015

Academics: Mary Darking, Carl Walker, Matt Adams, Jo Orchard-Webb, Kim Aumann and Martin Jordan.

Audience: Community partners, undergraduate students, post graduate students, staff and faculty members, academic.

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'10 down, 10 to go!' University of Brighton and the future of community partnerships - creative writing edit

Overview:

In 2013 CUPP celebrated ten years of successful and innovative operation and engaged in a number of ways of looking forward to the next ten years. Among these was a tailored creative writing exercise, the results of which are presented here.

This exercise was intended to present a vision of the future - specifically of community-university partnership working in 2023 - in a very immediate and concrete way - a future in and around a university which had fully embraced the social and community agenda. What would or could it be like on a typical day for a range of participants engaged with such a university?

Publication date: October 2014

Audience: Community partners, undergraduate students, post graduate students, staff and faculty members, academics.

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'10 down, 10 to go!' University of Brighton and the future of community partnerships 

Overview:

If we wish to shape our own futures we must first build them in our imagination. Ten years on, successful and battle-hardened, this is what CUPP, the Community University Partnership Programme at Brighton, is now doing.

In the following pages we present a vision of community university engagement in a university of 2023 which combines: flexibility in its connections with local neighbourhoods and communities; innovation in its ways of working; and genuine partnership in producing and applying new knowledge.

Publication date: October 2014

Audience: Community partners, undergraduate students, post graduate students, staff and faculty members, academics

Hear Dave Wolff talk to Radio Free Brighton about the last 10 years

Watch Professor Sir David Watson 

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Learning to make a difference: the University of Brighton and its local communities

Overview:

Every year, university staff and students undertake a wide range of projects in partnership with local communities. Many of these are supported by the university's Community University Partnership Programme (CUPP).

In its ten years of operation CUPP has directly supported over 150 partnership projects and each year over 300 students undertake community activities as part of their studies.

This collection of case studies represents a snapshot of the University of Brighton's social engagement activities, work that links the university to our local communities.

Publication date: June 2013

Academics: Aiden McGarry, Bobbie Farsides, Sue Eckstein, Helen Stanley, Nichola Khan, Nick Gant

Audience: Community partners, undergraduate students, post graduate students, staff and faculty members, academics.

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Working with us

Overview:

This publication outlines the history and background of the University of Brighton's Community University Partnership Programme (CUPP) and various ways in which different groups and individuals can work with us. From support to find an academic whose research interests align with those of local community organisations via the CUPP helpdesk to community knowledge exchange projects supported by the Cupp Seed Fund, student community engagement modules and staff and student volunteer programmes.

Publication date: July 2013

Audience: community partners, undergraduate students, post graduate students, staff and faculty members, academics.

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Defining in the doing

Overview:

The Community University Partnership programme (CUPP) at the University of Brighton, established in 2003 and now in its 10th anniversary year, spans a particular period which saw the emergence of community engagement as a priority for universities in the UK and internationally. Started as an externally funded project at a time when there was little attention given to engagement in the UK, it evolved during a significant period of development and change in the Higher Education sector when the purpose of universities has been brought increasingly under debate.

This publication looks at how CUPP has developed and adapted from its inception in 2003 until 2013, considering the changing agendas and priorities that have played a part over that time period.

Publication date: July 2013

Audience: Community partners, undergraduate students, post graduate students, staff and faculty members, academics.

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Academic Experiences - Working in Community University Partnerships

Overview:

This is a small collection of writing that provides five academic experiences of working in community-university partnerships. The contributors have all worked as part of the Community University Partnership Programme (CUPP) at the University of Brighton in the last five years.

This collection of stories is intended as an illustration of some of the experiences, thoughts, ideas and range of practices people are engaged in.

Publication date: June 2010

Academics: Leela Bakshi, Alice Fox, Kath Browne, Angie Hart, Dee MacDonald, Carl Walker

Audience: academics in the early stages of their community engagement work.

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Community University Partnerships in Practice

Overview:

This is CUPP’s first book, co-written by over 40 community members and academics, the book offers a unique and frank observation of the successes and pitfalls of university partnership with the wider community. Sharing theoretical and practical insights, this book hopes to inform and inspire other universities and community organisations and spark debate about the role of universities in contemporary society.

Publication date: May 2007

Edited by:  Angie Hart, Elizabeth Maddison and David Wolff with 40 co-authors

Audience: Community partners, undergraduate students, post graduate students, staff and faculty members, academics

This book is available to buy on Amazon.

List of Academic articles by members of the Community University Partnership Programme team

Overview:

This list contains details of academic articles, book chapters and papers relating to Community-university partnerships which have been written by members of the CUPP team

Publication Date: Updated July 2016

Authors: David Wolff, Angie Hart, Juliet Millican, Ceri Davies, Bethan Prosser, Stuart Laing.

Audience: Community partners, undergraduate students, post graduate students, staff and faculty members, academics.

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