Big Staff Conference Marketplace

On 1st July co-researchers Kelsey and Keira attended the Big staff conference at the Blackpool Winter Gardens. For conference was for Blackpool Council staff. They had a Blackpool Researching Together stall which allowed them to engage with other organisations by explaining work we have done through the HDRC/NIHR and gave out information pamphlets and encouraged them to sign up to the newsletter. Keira and Kelsey spoke about the engagement they’ve had with young people through Coastal Community Creative Health and our focus on researching health inequalities within the priority areas.

By exploring the different stalls in the marketplace, they got to speak to organisations such as The White Ribbon, Cosy Homes in Lancashire, Enveco, Wisdom Wellbeing, Blackpool Family Hubs and Unison. Additionally, a representative who works in polls for voting, was interested in research to do with young people, our co researchers were able to exchange details and are hoping in work together in future. Overall, the co-researchers found the face-to-face engagement really valuable as they got the opportunity to practise more networking and make connections for future. 

'It was good to experience being in that environment with people we don't usually work with and building confidence in networking.' Keira I (co-researcher)

Some of the Blackpool Researching Together Team wearing white t shirts, holding leaflets, the posing for a photo stood infront of our stall.