Introduction
The educational webinars are a great way to access a topic in a bitesize; they are designed to provide an introduction into a broad range of topics related to research, evidence, evaluation, and learning. You can learn about research developments across Somerset, hear about resources, and listen to key speakers in Somerset Council, the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE), partner agencies and specialist in their field of research.
Educational webinars are suitable for everyone, even if you’re just starting out in research. They are a great way to start your journey and a great accompaniment to the REEL training and development programme of training workshops.
Breaking Barriers Research
Thursday 28 May, midday to 1pm
Join us for a short, engaging webinar introducing the Breaking Barriers project. We’ll share key findings and impact from this Somerset‑based study exploring economic inactivity linked to ill‑health and/or disability, the barriers and enablers to work, and practical recommendations to help people find, stay in, or return to work.
You will also hear how the HDRC team worked with local communities and organisations to place lived experience at the heart of the project, and how participatory approaches can lead to meaningful change in Council work.
- Build awareness and understanding of the Breaking Barriers project and results
- Show how the results will be implemented and used across various Employment and Skills projects
- Showing value of participatory approach in Somerset Council work and strategies.
Presenters
- Samantha Evans, Co-Executive Director, Edventure Frome
- Melanie Thomas, Service Manager, Workplace and Skills, Somerset Council
- Dr Frederick Marais, Public Health Specialist, Service Manager, HDRC Somerset
- Dan Navarra, Community Co- Researcher, Community Participation, HDRC Somerset
- Abbie Hughes Community Co-Researcher, Community Participation, HDRC Somerset
- Tom Evans, Research Assistant, Community Participation , HDRC Somerset
- Jemimah Allwright, Economic Development Policy and Research Officer, Somerset Council
Reflection’s from the Research Practitioner
Friday 29 May, midday to 1pm
This session will provide insights to Somerset Council, partners, and wider colleagues around the role of Research Practitioners and the experiences of Jemimah Allwright fulfilling this role alongside their role as Economic Development, Policy and former Research Practitioner.
The webinar will explore how this opportunity facilitated personal development as well as how teams can benefit from the skills and experiences of participating in the Research Practitioner Program.
The facilitators will share insight into optimizing co-learning opportunities, the benefits for the HDRC programs including the training and development offer, Research, Evidence, Evaluation, and Learning (REEL), and strengthening the wider Somerset Council relational capacity to co-produce work.
The session aims to demonstrate the importance and benefits of these HDRC opportunities for individual staff development, as well as benefits for the wider team
How the research practitioner role helps to co-produce work of HDRC and the local authority system
Presenters
- Jemimah Allwright, ED Policy and Research Officer, Somerset Council
- Dr Frederick Marais, Public Health Specialist, Service Manager, HDRC Somerset
- Dr Jack Brazier, Research Culture and Capacity Building Service Manager, HDR Somerset
Professor Sir Marmot discusses the recent Health Foundation Report
Wednesday 3 June, midday to 1.30pm
Join us as we welcome Professor Sir Michael Marmot back to discuss the recent Health Foundation report and its implications for healthy life expectancy in the UK. We will also be joined by Alicia Phillips, Senior Consultant leading on Marmot Places and Louise Vernon, Population Health Manager supporting the Marmot Region in Cheshire and Merseyside. They will explore real-world examples of how to rally a system around a health equity project and the challenges and opportunities that arise. The session will be delivered on Teams and there will be time for questions.
Learning objectives:
- learn about the implications of the newly published Health Foundation report which highlights the decline in healthy life expectancy in the UK
- understand the importance of using evidence-informed and coordinated action to tackle these inequalities
- explore tangible examples of Marmot Places in action in order to inspire similar ways of working in other areas
Presenters
- Prof Sir Michael Marmot, Institute of Health Equity –Sir Michael is a professor of epidemiology at UCL, Director of the Institute of Health Equity and a world renown public health researcher on health inequalities.
- Alicia Phillips, Institute of Health Equity – Alicia Phillips is a Senior Consultant with the Institute of Health Equity leading on Marmot Places
- Louise Vernon – Louise is the Population Health Programme Manager for All Together Fairer and All Together Smokefree Programmes working to deliver Marmot Place projects in Cheshire and Merseyside