Moulsecoomb and Bevendean – Our voice

Community consultations can flounder because of the difficulty in representing the views of hard-to-reach people. Working with community researchers can improve the chances of discovering and articulating unheard voices so that they can influence decision-making.

Partners

Lead community partner - Kaye Duerdorth, The Trust for Developing Communities
Other partner - The Bevy Community Pub
Researcher - Dr Kerry Fox, University of Brighton

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Background

The Trust for Developing Communities (TDC) and researchers from the university's School of Applied Social Science worked with residents of Moulsecoomb and Bevendean to co-design a community research project. The project improved social inclusion and community resilience by seeking out previously unheard voices and channelling them to decision makers to influence service delivery. The community researcher model has the potential to attract funding and allow the project to be expanded within Moulsecoomb, across the city and beyond; improving services through better capture and dissemination of local knowledge.

Key activities, outputs, outcomes and impacts

  • Developed a community researcher framework as a community-owned method for ensuring voices in the area are heard.
  • Six community researchers, along with the partners, co-designed an interview schedule that invited community members to reflect specifically on moments when they needed help or advice.
  • Sixteen resident interviews were then conducted by the community researchers.
  • Three key themes emerged from the research. Firstly, the role of connections, including social and informal support, for community resilience. Secondly, improving ways that community members can access information and advice. Finally, how services engage and support local people, including more accessible, local organisations.
  • A community and a stakeholder event, including with service providers, was held to share this knowledge and discuss next steps.
  • Funding is being sought for future activities to sustain the project. This will include developing a protocol with local people for community consultations, as well as taking action on community identified priorities that can have a positive impact on the neighbourhood.