National Partnership to tackle Health Inequalities in Coastal Communities

Lead Research Organisation: University of Liverpool
Department Name: Primary Care and Mental Health

Abstract

As shown by the Chief Medical Officer's 2021 report, coastal communities suffer some of the worst health outcomes in the country, and significant inequalities(1). In coastal towns, poverty, poor housing, limited opportunities and a low-wage economy(2) result in lower life expectancy and higher rates of major diseases compared to inland neighbours. Meanwhile, health services are overstretched(1). Creative community assets such as arts and culture organisations have the potential to improve lives(3), and Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) aim to integrate community assets with preventive interventions and health and social care. However, collaboration between NHS, local authorities, universities, voluntary and community sector and residents is challenging because of differences in organisational objectives, structure, and culture. We need to understand how these stakeholders can come together to improve people's health.

Our approach

Building on our work in Phase 2 of this funding call, we will focus on three coastal areas with poor health in different regions of England: Blackpool, Weston-Super-Mare, and Hastings. We will work together, uniting these different stakeholders, to generate an evidence-based plan to support collaboration across sectors and with the community to tackle health inequalities. We will focus on key problem areas in mental health identified by our communities: young people's mental health and wellbeing; drug and alcohol (substance) misuse; and life-limiting illness and bereavement.

Organisations

People

ORCID iD

Barbara Mezes (Principal Investigator) orcid http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0799-2423
Helen Shearn (Co-Investigator)
Sarah Hotham (Co-Investigator) orcid http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5525-3254
Heather Catt (Co-Investigator) orcid http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9515-7497
Lisa Buttery (Co-Investigator)
Julia Fortier (Co-Investigator) orcid http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0763-778X
Sophie Wickham (Co-Investigator) orcid http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7515-2979
Beverley Ashmore (Co-Investigator)
Lindsay Forbes (Co-Investigator) orcid http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4654-9520
Teresa Salami-Oru (Co-Investigator) orcid http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6139-4221
Judith Mills (Co-Investigator)
Tracy Hopkins (Co-Investigator) orcid http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6474-2551
John Macleod (Co-Investigator)
Henry Pollock (Co-Investigator) orcid http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1442-3413
Jonathan Hutchinson (Co-Investigator)
Josie Billington (Co-Investigator) orcid http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0632-612X
Mike Crowther (Co-Investigator) orcid http://orcid.org/0009-0006-1951-5436
Laura Albury (Co-Investigator) orcid http://orcid.org/0009-0002-6267-3588
Alice Malpass (Co-Investigator)
Lesel Dawson (Co-Investigator) orcid http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3519-7662
Nicola ODriscoll (Co-Investigator) orcid http://orcid.org/0009-0009-1884-6390
Alexandra Sawyer (Co-Investigator)
Nigel Sherriff (Co-Investigator)
Uschi Klein (Co-Investigator) orcid http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9487-1007
Buket Kara (Co-Investigator) orcid http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4424-240X
Charlotte Chamberlain (Co-Investigator) orcid http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1891-7522
Lucy Ellen Selman (Co-Investigator) orcid http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5747-2699
Helen Wheelock (Co-Investigator) orcid http://orcid.org/0009-0004-7068-1283
David Moss (Co-Investigator)
Susan Flowers (Co-Investigator) orcid http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9302-3492
Fiona Matthews (Co-Investigator) orcid http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7567-0795

Publications

10 25 50
 
Title Blackpool Making Waves creative poster 
Description This is a illustration by Kremena Dimitrova co-produced with involvement from Riley Bunce (Boingboing Foundation) and Sue Flowers (Green Close) in 2024. It is an engaging visual representation of Blackpool as a place and the focus of the research project. 
Type Of Art Artwork 
Year Produced 2024 
Impact This creative poster has communicated the project aims and a call to get involved in its activities. 
URL https://coastalcch.bristol.ac.uk/making-waves-community-creative-health-network/
 
Title Coastal Communities & Creative Health logo 
Description The Coastal Communities & Creative Health logo has been co-created with Adam York Gregory to represent the project visually, its recognisable light blue semi-circle wave and project title is featured widely across our outputs. 
Type Of Art Image 
Year Produced 2024 
Impact The project now has a recognisable visual branding to be featured on a variety of outputs including presentations, our website and posters. 
URL https://coastalcch.bristol.ac.uk/
 
Title Six Illustrated Scenario's to be used in World Cafe workshops in March in Weston, Hastings and Blackpool 
Description Scarlet Designs created visual representations of fictional characters to figuratively illustrate 6 different scenarios. Each scenario describes challenges faced by different members of the community in relation to substance use, beravement, end of life care and young peroples mental health and wellbeing. 
Type Of Art Artwork 
Year Produced 2025 
Impact Up to 150 stakeholders representing multiple sectors (health/social care, VSCE, arts and creative health, local authority, people with lived experience and academia), will use the illustrations in a World Cafe small table dialogue and exploration of community assets. 
 
Description Building cross-sector partnerships influencing ways of working
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to new or improved professional practice
Impact 110 people from attended this regular forum to connect and raise awareness of services, influence commissioning and services.
 
Description Invitation to present oral evidence at parliament
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
URL https://palliativecarecommission.uk/
 
Description Collaborations that came into effect as a result of organisations attending the regional discussion forums 
Organisation Blackpool Council
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution We are holding discussion forums every 6 months at each of the three sites to bring together partners and collaborators and help ensure the project is guided by the needs and views of local communities. The aim of these events is to reach awareness of practice and how people are supported in their working areas and form a basis for research data collection, informing i.e. the world cafes and capacity building workshops. One forum at each site has taken place at time of reporting, the second round of sessions are taking place in early spring 2025. We provided table sheets to document local assets in the three focus areas. The table sheets gatherered information from the partner organisations on what community assets exist, who they are aimed at as well as looking at which communities are underserved and overlooked in the current range of community assets. There was consistency across the three sites on the content and design of table sheets.
Collaborator Contribution 55 organisations attended the 3 discussion forums that were held to date, among private individuals. Some of the organisations also gave presentations to showcase their work. Their knowledge of local contexts helped us to better understand relevant topics that require research attention. The partners contributed via constructive conversation, adding answers to the four questions on the table sheets and sharing critical questions in relation to the working areas. Their thoughts and suggestions collected on these table sheets inform the development of the project.
Impact Each site compiled photographic evidence of the table-top discussion sheets and produced a synthesise summary of the discussions. This collaboration is multi-disciplinary with the following sectors involved: Third sector, local community organisations, local arts organisations, local authority and health and social care.
Start Year 2024
 
Description Collaborations that came into effect as a result of organisations attending the regional discussion forums 
Organisation Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We are holding discussion forums every 6 months at each of the three sites to bring together partners and collaborators and help ensure the project is guided by the needs and views of local communities. The aim of these events is to reach awareness of practice and how people are supported in their working areas and form a basis for research data collection, informing i.e. the world cafes and capacity building workshops. One forum at each site has taken place at time of reporting, the second round of sessions are taking place in early spring 2025. We provided table sheets to document local assets in the three focus areas. The table sheets gatherered information from the partner organisations on what community assets exist, who they are aimed at as well as looking at which communities are underserved and overlooked in the current range of community assets. There was consistency across the three sites on the content and design of table sheets.
Collaborator Contribution 55 organisations attended the 3 discussion forums that were held to date, among private individuals. Some of the organisations also gave presentations to showcase their work. Their knowledge of local contexts helped us to better understand relevant topics that require research attention. The partners contributed via constructive conversation, adding answers to the four questions on the table sheets and sharing critical questions in relation to the working areas. Their thoughts and suggestions collected on these table sheets inform the development of the project.
Impact Each site compiled photographic evidence of the table-top discussion sheets and produced a synthesise summary of the discussions. This collaboration is multi-disciplinary with the following sectors involved: Third sector, local community organisations, local arts organisations, local authority and health and social care.
Start Year 2024
 
Description Collaborations that came into effect as a result of organisations attending the regional discussion forums 
Organisation Change Grow Live
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution We are holding discussion forums every 6 months at each of the three sites to bring together partners and collaborators and help ensure the project is guided by the needs and views of local communities. The aim of these events is to reach awareness of practice and how people are supported in their working areas and form a basis for research data collection, informing i.e. the world cafes and capacity building workshops. One forum at each site has taken place at time of reporting, the second round of sessions are taking place in early spring 2025. We provided table sheets to document local assets in the three focus areas. The table sheets gatherered information from the partner organisations on what community assets exist, who they are aimed at as well as looking at which communities are underserved and overlooked in the current range of community assets. There was consistency across the three sites on the content and design of table sheets.
Collaborator Contribution 55 organisations attended the 3 discussion forums that were held to date, among private individuals. Some of the organisations also gave presentations to showcase their work. Their knowledge of local contexts helped us to better understand relevant topics that require research attention. The partners contributed via constructive conversation, adding answers to the four questions on the table sheets and sharing critical questions in relation to the working areas. Their thoughts and suggestions collected on these table sheets inform the development of the project.
Impact Each site compiled photographic evidence of the table-top discussion sheets and produced a synthesise summary of the discussions. This collaboration is multi-disciplinary with the following sectors involved: Third sector, local community organisations, local arts organisations, local authority and health and social care.
Start Year 2024
 
Description Collaborations that came into effect as a result of organisations attending the regional discussion forums 
Organisation Citizens Advice Blackpool
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution We are holding discussion forums every 6 months at each of the three sites to bring together partners and collaborators and help ensure the project is guided by the needs and views of local communities. The aim of these events is to reach awareness of practice and how people are supported in their working areas and form a basis for research data collection, informing i.e. the world cafes and capacity building workshops. One forum at each site has taken place at time of reporting, the second round of sessions are taking place in early spring 2025. We provided table sheets to document local assets in the three focus areas. The table sheets gatherered information from the partner organisations on what community assets exist, who they are aimed at as well as looking at which communities are underserved and overlooked in the current range of community assets. There was consistency across the three sites on the content and design of table sheets.
Collaborator Contribution 55 organisations attended the 3 discussion forums that were held to date, among private individuals. Some of the organisations also gave presentations to showcase their work. Their knowledge of local contexts helped us to better understand relevant topics that require research attention. The partners contributed via constructive conversation, adding answers to the four questions on the table sheets and sharing critical questions in relation to the working areas. Their thoughts and suggestions collected on these table sheets inform the development of the project.
Impact Each site compiled photographic evidence of the table-top discussion sheets and produced a synthesise summary of the discussions. This collaboration is multi-disciplinary with the following sectors involved: Third sector, local community organisations, local arts organisations, local authority and health and social care.
Start Year 2024
 
Description Collaborations that came into effect as a result of organisations attending the regional discussion forums 
Organisation CultureShift
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution We are holding discussion forums every 6 months at each of the three sites to bring together partners and collaborators and help ensure the project is guided by the needs and views of local communities. The aim of these events is to reach awareness of practice and how people are supported in their working areas and form a basis for research data collection, informing i.e. the world cafes and capacity building workshops. One forum at each site has taken place at time of reporting, the second round of sessions are taking place in early spring 2025. We provided table sheets to document local assets in the three focus areas. The table sheets gatherered information from the partner organisations on what community assets exist, who they are aimed at as well as looking at which communities are underserved and overlooked in the current range of community assets. There was consistency across the three sites on the content and design of table sheets.
Collaborator Contribution 55 organisations attended the 3 discussion forums that were held to date, among private individuals. Some of the organisations also gave presentations to showcase their work. Their knowledge of local contexts helped us to better understand relevant topics that require research attention. The partners contributed via constructive conversation, adding answers to the four questions on the table sheets and sharing critical questions in relation to the working areas. Their thoughts and suggestions collected on these table sheets inform the development of the project.
Impact Each site compiled photographic evidence of the table-top discussion sheets and produced a synthesise summary of the discussions. This collaboration is multi-disciplinary with the following sectors involved: Third sector, local community organisations, local arts organisations, local authority and health and social care.
Start Year 2024
 
Description Collaborations that came into effect as a result of organisations attending the regional discussion forums 
Organisation East Sussex County Council
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution We are holding discussion forums every 6 months at each of the three sites to bring together partners and collaborators and help ensure the project is guided by the needs and views of local communities. The aim of these events is to reach awareness of practice and how people are supported in their working areas and form a basis for research data collection, informing i.e. the world cafes and capacity building workshops. One forum at each site has taken place at time of reporting, the second round of sessions are taking place in early spring 2025. We provided table sheets to document local assets in the three focus areas. The table sheets gatherered information from the partner organisations on what community assets exist, who they are aimed at as well as looking at which communities are underserved and overlooked in the current range of community assets. There was consistency across the three sites on the content and design of table sheets.
Collaborator Contribution 55 organisations attended the 3 discussion forums that were held to date, among private individuals. Some of the organisations also gave presentations to showcase their work. Their knowledge of local contexts helped us to better understand relevant topics that require research attention. The partners contributed via constructive conversation, adding answers to the four questions on the table sheets and sharing critical questions in relation to the working areas. Their thoughts and suggestions collected on these table sheets inform the development of the project.
Impact Each site compiled photographic evidence of the table-top discussion sheets and produced a synthesise summary of the discussions. This collaboration is multi-disciplinary with the following sectors involved: Third sector, local community organisations, local arts organisations, local authority and health and social care.
Start Year 2024
 
Description Collaborations that came into effect as a result of organisations attending the regional discussion forums 
Organisation Goldsmiths, University of London
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We are holding discussion forums every 6 months at each of the three sites to bring together partners and collaborators and help ensure the project is guided by the needs and views of local communities. The aim of these events is to reach awareness of practice and how people are supported in their working areas and form a basis for research data collection, informing i.e. the world cafes and capacity building workshops. One forum at each site has taken place at time of reporting, the second round of sessions are taking place in early spring 2025. We provided table sheets to document local assets in the three focus areas. The table sheets gatherered information from the partner organisations on what community assets exist, who they are aimed at as well as looking at which communities are underserved and overlooked in the current range of community assets. There was consistency across the three sites on the content and design of table sheets.
Collaborator Contribution 55 organisations attended the 3 discussion forums that were held to date, among private individuals. Some of the organisations also gave presentations to showcase their work. Their knowledge of local contexts helped us to better understand relevant topics that require research attention. The partners contributed via constructive conversation, adding answers to the four questions on the table sheets and sharing critical questions in relation to the working areas. Their thoughts and suggestions collected on these table sheets inform the development of the project.
Impact Each site compiled photographic evidence of the table-top discussion sheets and produced a synthesise summary of the discussions. This collaboration is multi-disciplinary with the following sectors involved: Third sector, local community organisations, local arts organisations, local authority and health and social care.
Start Year 2024
 
Description Collaborations that came into effect as a result of organisations attending the regional discussion forums 
Organisation Groundwork
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution We are holding discussion forums every 6 months at each of the three sites to bring together partners and collaborators and help ensure the project is guided by the needs and views of local communities. The aim of these events is to reach awareness of practice and how people are supported in their working areas and form a basis for research data collection, informing i.e. the world cafes and capacity building workshops. One forum at each site has taken place at time of reporting, the second round of sessions are taking place in early spring 2025. We provided table sheets to document local assets in the three focus areas. The table sheets gatherered information from the partner organisations on what community assets exist, who they are aimed at as well as looking at which communities are underserved and overlooked in the current range of community assets. There was consistency across the three sites on the content and design of table sheets.
Collaborator Contribution 55 organisations attended the 3 discussion forums that were held to date, among private individuals. Some of the organisations also gave presentations to showcase their work. Their knowledge of local contexts helped us to better understand relevant topics that require research attention. The partners contributed via constructive conversation, adding answers to the four questions on the table sheets and sharing critical questions in relation to the working areas. Their thoughts and suggestions collected on these table sheets inform the development of the project.
Impact Each site compiled photographic evidence of the table-top discussion sheets and produced a synthesise summary of the discussions. This collaboration is multi-disciplinary with the following sectors involved: Third sector, local community organisations, local arts organisations, local authority and health and social care.
Start Year 2024
 
Description Collaborations that came into effect as a result of organisations attending the regional discussion forums 
Organisation Hastings Contemporary
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution We are holding discussion forums every 6 months at each of the three sites to bring together partners and collaborators and help ensure the project is guided by the needs and views of local communities. The aim of these events is to reach awareness of practice and how people are supported in their working areas and form a basis for research data collection, informing i.e. the world cafes and capacity building workshops. One forum at each site has taken place at time of reporting, the second round of sessions are taking place in early spring 2025. We provided table sheets to document local assets in the three focus areas. The table sheets gatherered information from the partner organisations on what community assets exist, who they are aimed at as well as looking at which communities are underserved and overlooked in the current range of community assets. There was consistency across the three sites on the content and design of table sheets.
Collaborator Contribution 55 organisations attended the 3 discussion forums that were held to date, among private individuals. Some of the organisations also gave presentations to showcase their work. Their knowledge of local contexts helped us to better understand relevant topics that require research attention. The partners contributed via constructive conversation, adding answers to the four questions on the table sheets and sharing critical questions in relation to the working areas. Their thoughts and suggestions collected on these table sheets inform the development of the project.
Impact Each site compiled photographic evidence of the table-top discussion sheets and produced a synthesise summary of the discussions. This collaboration is multi-disciplinary with the following sectors involved: Third sector, local community organisations, local arts organisations, local authority and health and social care.
Start Year 2024
 
Description Collaborations that came into effect as a result of organisations attending the regional discussion forums 
Organisation Healthwatch
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution We are holding discussion forums every 6 months at each of the three sites to bring together partners and collaborators and help ensure the project is guided by the needs and views of local communities. The aim of these events is to reach awareness of practice and how people are supported in their working areas and form a basis for research data collection, informing i.e. the world cafes and capacity building workshops. One forum at each site has taken place at time of reporting, the second round of sessions are taking place in early spring 2025. We provided table sheets to document local assets in the three focus areas. The table sheets gatherered information from the partner organisations on what community assets exist, who they are aimed at as well as looking at which communities are underserved and overlooked in the current range of community assets. There was consistency across the three sites on the content and design of table sheets.
Collaborator Contribution 55 organisations attended the 3 discussion forums that were held to date, among private individuals. Some of the organisations also gave presentations to showcase their work. Their knowledge of local contexts helped us to better understand relevant topics that require research attention. The partners contributed via constructive conversation, adding answers to the four questions on the table sheets and sharing critical questions in relation to the working areas. Their thoughts and suggestions collected on these table sheets inform the development of the project.
Impact Each site compiled photographic evidence of the table-top discussion sheets and produced a synthesise summary of the discussions. This collaboration is multi-disciplinary with the following sectors involved: Third sector, local community organisations, local arts organisations, local authority and health and social care.
Start Year 2024
 
Description Collaborations that came into effect as a result of organisations attending the regional discussion forums 
Organisation North Somerset Council
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution We are holding discussion forums every 6 months at each of the three sites to bring together partners and collaborators and help ensure the project is guided by the needs and views of local communities. The aim of these events is to reach awareness of practice and how people are supported in their working areas and form a basis for research data collection, informing i.e. the world cafes and capacity building workshops. One forum at each site has taken place at time of reporting, the second round of sessions are taking place in early spring 2025. We provided table sheets to document local assets in the three focus areas. The table sheets gatherered information from the partner organisations on what community assets exist, who they are aimed at as well as looking at which communities are underserved and overlooked in the current range of community assets. There was consistency across the three sites on the content and design of table sheets.
Collaborator Contribution 55 organisations attended the 3 discussion forums that were held to date, among private individuals. Some of the organisations also gave presentations to showcase their work. Their knowledge of local contexts helped us to better understand relevant topics that require research attention. The partners contributed via constructive conversation, adding answers to the four questions on the table sheets and sharing critical questions in relation to the working areas. Their thoughts and suggestions collected on these table sheets inform the development of the project.
Impact Each site compiled photographic evidence of the table-top discussion sheets and produced a synthesise summary of the discussions. This collaboration is multi-disciplinary with the following sectors involved: Third sector, local community organisations, local arts organisations, local authority and health and social care.
Start Year 2024
 
Description Collaborations that came into effect as a result of organisations attending the regional discussion forums 
Organisation Sirona care & health
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution We are holding discussion forums every 6 months at each of the three sites to bring together partners and collaborators and help ensure the project is guided by the needs and views of local communities. The aim of these events is to reach awareness of practice and how people are supported in their working areas and form a basis for research data collection, informing i.e. the world cafes and capacity building workshops. One forum at each site has taken place at time of reporting, the second round of sessions are taking place in early spring 2025. We provided table sheets to document local assets in the three focus areas. The table sheets gatherered information from the partner organisations on what community assets exist, who they are aimed at as well as looking at which communities are underserved and overlooked in the current range of community assets. There was consistency across the three sites on the content and design of table sheets.
Collaborator Contribution 55 organisations attended the 3 discussion forums that were held to date, among private individuals. Some of the organisations also gave presentations to showcase their work. Their knowledge of local contexts helped us to better understand relevant topics that require research attention. The partners contributed via constructive conversation, adding answers to the four questions on the table sheets and sharing critical questions in relation to the working areas. Their thoughts and suggestions collected on these table sheets inform the development of the project.
Impact Each site compiled photographic evidence of the table-top discussion sheets and produced a synthesise summary of the discussions. This collaboration is multi-disciplinary with the following sectors involved: Third sector, local community organisations, local arts organisations, local authority and health and social care.
Start Year 2024
 
Description Collaborations that came into effect as a result of organisations attending the regional discussion forums 
Organisation Soundcastle
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution We are holding discussion forums every 6 months at each of the three sites to bring together partners and collaborators and help ensure the project is guided by the needs and views of local communities. The aim of these events is to reach awareness of practice and how people are supported in their working areas and form a basis for research data collection, informing i.e. the world cafes and capacity building workshops. One forum at each site has taken place at time of reporting, the second round of sessions are taking place in early spring 2025. We provided table sheets to document local assets in the three focus areas. The table sheets gatherered information from the partner organisations on what community assets exist, who they are aimed at as well as looking at which communities are underserved and overlooked in the current range of community assets. There was consistency across the three sites on the content and design of table sheets.
Collaborator Contribution 55 organisations attended the 3 discussion forums that were held to date, among private individuals. Some of the organisations also gave presentations to showcase their work. Their knowledge of local contexts helped us to better understand relevant topics that require research attention. The partners contributed via constructive conversation, adding answers to the four questions on the table sheets and sharing critical questions in relation to the working areas. Their thoughts and suggestions collected on these table sheets inform the development of the project.
Impact Each site compiled photographic evidence of the table-top discussion sheets and produced a synthesise summary of the discussions. This collaboration is multi-disciplinary with the following sectors involved: Third sector, local community organisations, local arts organisations, local authority and health and social care.
Start Year 2024
 
Description Collaborations that came into effect as a result of organisations attending the regional discussion forums 
Organisation Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution We are holding discussion forums every 6 months at each of the three sites to bring together partners and collaborators and help ensure the project is guided by the needs and views of local communities. The aim of these events is to reach awareness of practice and how people are supported in their working areas and form a basis for research data collection, informing i.e. the world cafes and capacity building workshops. One forum at each site has taken place at time of reporting, the second round of sessions are taking place in early spring 2025. We provided table sheets to document local assets in the three focus areas. The table sheets gatherered information from the partner organisations on what community assets exist, who they are aimed at as well as looking at which communities are underserved and overlooked in the current range of community assets. There was consistency across the three sites on the content and design of table sheets.
Collaborator Contribution 55 organisations attended the 3 discussion forums that were held to date, among private individuals. Some of the organisations also gave presentations to showcase their work. Their knowledge of local contexts helped us to better understand relevant topics that require research attention. The partners contributed via constructive conversation, adding answers to the four questions on the table sheets and sharing critical questions in relation to the working areas. Their thoughts and suggestions collected on these table sheets inform the development of the project.
Impact Each site compiled photographic evidence of the table-top discussion sheets and produced a synthesise summary of the discussions. This collaboration is multi-disciplinary with the following sectors involved: Third sector, local community organisations, local arts organisations, local authority and health and social care.
Start Year 2024
 
Description Collaborations that came into effect as a result of organisations attending the regional discussion forums 
Organisation University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Hospitals 
PI Contribution We are holding discussion forums every 6 months at each of the three sites to bring together partners and collaborators and help ensure the project is guided by the needs and views of local communities. The aim of these events is to reach awareness of practice and how people are supported in their working areas and form a basis for research data collection, informing i.e. the world cafes and capacity building workshops. One forum at each site has taken place at time of reporting, the second round of sessions are taking place in early spring 2025. We provided table sheets to document local assets in the three focus areas. The table sheets gatherered information from the partner organisations on what community assets exist, who they are aimed at as well as looking at which communities are underserved and overlooked in the current range of community assets. There was consistency across the three sites on the content and design of table sheets.
Collaborator Contribution 55 organisations attended the 3 discussion forums that were held to date, among private individuals. Some of the organisations also gave presentations to showcase their work. Their knowledge of local contexts helped us to better understand relevant topics that require research attention. The partners contributed via constructive conversation, adding answers to the four questions on the table sheets and sharing critical questions in relation to the working areas. Their thoughts and suggestions collected on these table sheets inform the development of the project.
Impact Each site compiled photographic evidence of the table-top discussion sheets and produced a synthesise summary of the discussions. This collaboration is multi-disciplinary with the following sectors involved: Third sector, local community organisations, local arts organisations, local authority and health and social care.
Start Year 2024
 
Description Collaborations that came into effect as a result of organisations attending the regional discussion forums 
Organisation Visions
Country United States 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution We are holding discussion forums every 6 months at each of the three sites to bring together partners and collaborators and help ensure the project is guided by the needs and views of local communities. The aim of these events is to reach awareness of practice and how people are supported in their working areas and form a basis for research data collection, informing i.e. the world cafes and capacity building workshops. One forum at each site has taken place at time of reporting, the second round of sessions are taking place in early spring 2025. We provided table sheets to document local assets in the three focus areas. The table sheets gatherered information from the partner organisations on what community assets exist, who they are aimed at as well as looking at which communities are underserved and overlooked in the current range of community assets. There was consistency across the three sites on the content and design of table sheets.
Collaborator Contribution 55 organisations attended the 3 discussion forums that were held to date, among private individuals. Some of the organisations also gave presentations to showcase their work. Their knowledge of local contexts helped us to better understand relevant topics that require research attention. The partners contributed via constructive conversation, adding answers to the four questions on the table sheets and sharing critical questions in relation to the working areas. Their thoughts and suggestions collected on these table sheets inform the development of the project.
Impact Each site compiled photographic evidence of the table-top discussion sheets and produced a synthesise summary of the discussions. This collaboration is multi-disciplinary with the following sectors involved: Third sector, local community organisations, local arts organisations, local authority and health and social care.
Start Year 2024
 
Description ARC National Coastal Presentation 28.03.24 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact About 20 individuals, public advisers and academics, attended our presentation introducing the CC&CH project. The CC&CH project was presented explaining the aims and motivations of the research as well as the research activities. This built further foundations for national partnership work.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Blackpool Council HDRC 15.04.24 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact About ten people with a background in local authority and public health attended the Blackpool HDRC meeting on the 15th of April 2024. The CC&CH project was presented to them, explaining the aims and motivations of the research as well as the research activities. This built further foundations for local partnership work.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Blackpool Council Public Health Team meeting 24.04.24 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact This was a meeting with the Blackpool Council Public Health Team, made up of local authority members and some members of the general public.
The CC&CH project was presented explaining the aims and motivations of the research as well as the research activities. This built further foundations for local partnership work.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Blackpool Making Waves Discussion Forum September 2024 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Third sector organisations
Results and Impact The discussion forums are open meetings, held every 6 months in each location, for local organisations and individuals to hear about the project and get involved. This was our first discussion forum event in the NW, to launch the 'Making Waves' community & creative health network in Blackpool.

We had 9 attendees from 5 third sector organisations, 6 attendees from 4 local community organisations, 4 attendees from 4 local arts organisations, 2 members of the public, 3 members of the project from the University of Liverpool and 2 independent artists/co-investigators.

A project overview, including aims, priority areas and activities, was provided and the importance of collaborations and uniting key partners from the different sectors to improve the health and wellbeing of the local community were emphasised.

Following lunch and networking, co-investigators Sue Flowers, a local artist and director of Green Close Studios, and Helen Shearn, an independent consultant in creative health, discussed their previous community work and their involvement as project work package leads. This included an outline of current findings on the positive effects of creative practices on health outcomes, and how this aligns with future strategies to tackle public health challenges in the region.

Three of the local project partners delivered presentations on their work across the Fylde Coast area to raise awareness of the great work they do in our priority areas of young people's mental health and wellbeing as well as alcohol and drug misuse and recovery.

Following the presentations, attendees were invited to answer a variety of questions in small groups. The discussions were wide-ranging and brought together a range of different perspectives from across sectors. We were pleased to be able to hear the group's thoughts on the impacts of creativity on health in Blackpool, the current gaps in services and training, and the various strengths each individual and organisation could bring to the project. We then collated the responses, which informed the future direction of our work across all 3 of our project sites - Blackpool, Hastings and Weston-super-Mare.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://coastalcch.bristol.ac.uk/news/#Blackpool-DiscForum
 
Description CC&CH big NW meet up 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact This was the regional NW meet-up of 3 artists, 2 co-researchers and 6 project team members. It offered an opportunity to network and get to know each other in-person and address any questions about upcoming research activities. The project team created and presented an academic poster at this event, introducing the project aims, motivations and research activities.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://theuniversityofliverpool.sharepoint.com/:p:/r/sites/CoastalCommunityCreativeHealth400-O365-T...
 
Description Capacity-building workshops work package team and the Creative Health Associates (National Centre for Creative Health) networking event 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Third sector organisations
Results and Impact This was a meeting organised between the Capacity-building workshops work package team and the Creative Health Associates (National Centre for Creative Health) based in NW, SE, and SW on 6th December 2024. They presented their work, as well as learned more about our project and discussed how we could support each other. This informs the upcoming capacity-building workshops.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Coastal Community & Creative Health wesbite 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact Our public project website has been live since mid-2024 and is a central point for highlighting project news but also shares calls for people to get engaged in activities across the three locations.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://coastalcch.bristol.ac.uk/
 
Description Coastal Community and Creative Health Project 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Professor Lucy Selman presented to the AHRC advisory board on 19 Nov 2024. The title of the presentation was: Coastal Community and Creative Health Project. There were c.30 people present - a mix of senior researchers and advisors.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2025
 
Description Creative Network Breakfast Blackpool presentation 04.09.24 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact 17 people made up of creative practitioners, cultural leaders and lived experience experts attended the Creative Network Breakfast Blackpool presentation on the 4th of September 2024. The CC&CH project was presented explaining the aims and motivations of the research as well as the research activities. This built further foundations for local partnership work.
Attendee organisations included Blackpool & The Fylde College, Blackpool Cultural Education Partnership, Blackpool Cultural Strategy Partners, Blackpool Council Head of Culture, Aunty Social CIC, Tramshed Blackpool, School of Street (House of Wings), Left Coast, The Grand Theatre, Blackpool Cultural Education Partnership (Co-chair), Showtown, The Old Electric and Arts Council England (Place Officer for Blackpool).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Creative network meeting Blackpool 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact This was a meeting of 13 practitioners and members of the general public in Blackpool with a background in the creative industries to further engage in partnership work.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Discussion Forum Hastings October 2024 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Third sector organisations
Results and Impact The discussion forums are open meetings, held twice a year in each location, for local organisations and individuals to hear about the project and get involved. This was the first forum held in the SE region and 36 attendees joined overall. We had 15 attendees from 12 VSCE organisations, one attendee from an educational institution, 4 attendees from 4 arts organisations, 5 attendees from 3 local authorities, 3 attendees from 2 health organisations and 8 members of the project team.

This half day workshop brought together partners, collaborators, communities, advocates and supporters across the Creative Health landscape within Hastings and Rother. In bringing organisations with creative health interests together, we aimed to discuss what needed to be done, and what could possibly be done, and what was missing from creative health in Hastings and Rother.

Facilitated by 'Collaborate Outloud' and organised by researchers across the Universities of Kent, Brighton and Sussex, it introduced the project, showcased the work of some of the partners and theme leads, and highlighted opportunities to become involved in the project. We heard from Teresa Salami-Oru from East Sussex County Council about the creative health agenda in East Sussex, Teresa Flower from Hastings Voluntary Action about the Mr Hastings & St Leonards project, Elmien Brink from St Michael's Hospice, Stephanie Edmonds from Fellowship of St Nicholas and Shar Elie from STAR Change Grow Live.

Small group discussions took place throughout the morning using table sheets to explore what people were excited about, how to grow the network, and sense-making of the morning (what happened today? so what? now what?). The thoughts and suggestions collected on these table sheets will inform the development of the project in Hastings. Conversations and connection continued over coffee and lunch.

The discussion forum provided a safe space to freely talk about projects, existing communities, organisations, successes, failures and local need. As well as the very real difficulties that have faced creative community and health projects, not least a lack of sustainability and dearth of national funding for supporting real change.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://coastalcch.bristol.ac.uk/news/#Hastings-DiscForum
 
Description Discussion Forum Weston-super-Mare July 2024 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Third sector organisations
Results and Impact The discussion forums are open meetings, held twice a year in each location, for local organisations and individuals to hear about the project and get involved. This was the first forum held in the SW region and 39 attendees joined overall. We had 16 attendees from across 13 VSCE, 5 attendees from 3 health and social care organisations, 4 attendees from a local authority, 5 attendees from 2 local arts organisations, and three members of the project from the University of Bristol.

The morning began with informal networking before settling down for a line-up of speakers. We first heard an update from Dr Lucy Selman about what had been achieved since the network started and the aims of the new AHRC-funded Coastal Communities and Creative Health three year project. It was introduced how the Weston team is joining forces with teams in Blackpool and Hastings, with a combined focus on mental health inequalities in coastal towns in three priority areas: young people's mental health and well-being, drug and alcohol (substance) misuse and serious illness and bereavement.

This was followed by presentations by two co-applicants, David Moss from the Weston and Woodspring Locality Partnership, who talked about priorities and goals of the partnership in the areas of young people's mental health, substance misuse and end-of-life and bereavement services. David's description of the ecosystem was a thread running throughout the next talk by Alison Bancroft from The Other Place, who talked about what is needed to collaborate in a complex world. Alison's talk opened up discussion in the room about what compassionate collaboration would look like and what the network needs to achieve it.

We then heard talks from those working in the new priority areas, substance misuse and young people's mental health - Adrian Riley from With You, Bev Gustar from Humans of Weston and Sophie Shepherd from Off The Record. Sue Stone from VANS shared updates about the North Somerset CYP Network and Wellbeing Fund, which will be distributing funds to the community sector.

The Q&A sessions after each speaker raised important points, with members sharing contacts and suggestions for how to overcome different types of barriers for organisations (e.g. accessing GP team meetings) and individuals accessing services (e.g. those in recovery feeling unable to access primary care). Weston Hospicecare invited network members to get involved in their new Advance Care Planning document.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://coastalcch.bristol.ac.uk/news/#wsmeventjuly
 
Description First Annual Project Meeting - June 2024 - Hastings 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact 36 team members from our 3 project areas attended our first annual project team meeting hosted on the 12th of June in Hastings. This included co-investigators, project partners and project support staff. Sectors included local government, higher education, third, NHS and community organisations.Team members were able to discuss their work and involvement with the project so far, as well as getting to know each other.Some colleagues who were unable to attend in-person attended the meeting virtually and participated in discussions.

Co-investigators and representatives from partner organisations then delivered short presentations on their work and their involvement with the project. Organisations included East Sussex Country Council, Blackpool Council, Super Culture, The Other Place (Weston-Super-Mare) and Blackpool Grand Theatre.

Attendees were able to gain insight into different cultural strategies across the three seaside towns, the approaches used by third sector organisations to deliver creative health, and how future plans would feed into research.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Good Grief Festival: A public health approach to the end of life and bereavement 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Professor Lucy Selman presented work on Good Grief Festival as a public health approach to End of Life and bereavement to the ARC KSS Public Health Network on 4th March, 2-3pm
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2025
 
Description Good Grief Weston Festival October 2024 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact This was a unique programme of events and activities across North Somerset which opened up conversations around death and bereavement, with honesty, compassion, joy and sometimes with humour.
The Good Grief Weston Festival 2024 (10 - 13 October), produced by Super Culture in collaboration with the University of Bristol and the Weston-Super-Mare Community Network, welcomed over a thousand people to the area for a four-day festival exploring love and loss in safe, inclusive spaces and connecting people to support networks and community resources where they live. Good Grief Weston takes its inspiration from the award-winning Good Grief Festival, started in 2020 by Professor Lucy Selman and Dr Lesel Dawson at the University of Bristol.

A specially curated and diverse programme of over 30 events offered multiple touch points, with content including immersive theatre, music, film, book clubs, gardening, cooking, talks from health professionals, creative offers in the high street, bespoke activities at Weston General Hospital and a public discussion on assisted dying involving Dan Aldridge, MP for Weston-Super-Mare.

A new film about the festival featuring people who took part as well as experts on death and grief, had a timely launch as Kim Leadbeater's Billon Assisted Dying entered debate in the Commons. The film is made by nicksuttonfilms, with music by Harry Purvis.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://coastalcch.bristol.ac.uk/news/#GGW-SuperC
 
Description Integrating palliative and end-of-life care: working toward equity 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact The blog summarises the main issues of inequity facing the UK in the area of end of life and bereavement. It draws on the recently published article 'From trusted intruder to real collaborator: mapping the ecosystem of stakeholders and community assets in a coastal region in England, with a focus on end-of-life care and bereavement support'.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2025
URL https://capcbristol.blogs.bristol.ac.uk/2025/01/13/integrating-palliative-and-end-of-life-care-worki...
 
Description Poster presentation at Edge Hill University - Health Research Institute's Research Showcase event - 19.09.24 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact The Health Research Institute (HRI) Showcase at Edge Hill University provided an excellent platform to share our work and engage with leading experts in health and social care. As part of this event, we presented a poster on our current project, offering an opportunity to highlight its progress, key findings, and potential impact.

The poster presentation facilitated insightful discussions with professionals, academics, and policymakers, helping to contextualise the project's significance within the broader landscape of primary care and mental health research. Engaging with stakeholders at this event not only helped raise awareness but also fostered potential collaborations that could enhance the project's reach and effectiveness. By showcasing our research in this environment, we contributed to the ongoing conversation on improving healthcare delivery and outcomes, reinforcing the value of evidence-based interventions in primary care and mental health.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Presentation at the Blackpool Researching Together Annual Learning Event 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact The academic poster on the CC&CH project was presented at the Blackpool Researching Together Annual Learning Event (Year 2) on 27.11.24, organised by Blackpool Council. The theme of the event was "co-production within research", in attendance were local and regional council partners, community members and colleagues from other HDRC's (Health Determinants Research Collaboration).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://bpb-eu-w2.wpmucdn.com/blogs.bristol.ac.uk/dist/c/1125/files/2024/12/CCCH-Project-Poster.pdf
 
Description Presentation to the Vice Chancellor 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact The academic poster about the CC&CH project was presented on the 18th of June 2024 at a visit from the Vice Chancellor.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://bpb-eu-w2.wpmucdn.com/blogs.bristol.ac.uk/dist/c/1125/files/2024/12/CCCH-Project-Poster.pdf