Researchers call for new approach to involving communities in research and decision-making
Manchester Urban Ageing Research Group shares ten years of lessons on working with older people and communities
Researchers from 蘑菇视频 are calling for a more meaningful approach to involving communities in research and decision-making, as the Manchester Urban Ageing Research Group (MUARG) celebrates ten years of bringing together researchers, older people, community organisations, policymakers and other partners to understand and improve experiences of ageing in cities.
The group's new publication, , brings together learning from 18 projects exploring what co-production means in practice - and what it takes to build stronger, more equal partnerships between researchers, communities and policymakers.
The collection shows how working closely with communities can help shape policies, neighbourhoods and housing, support local organisations and strengthen work to make Greater Manchester more age-friendly.
It also introduces the TRUST framework, which sets out five principles for working more equally with communities:
Trust 鈥� building relationships based on care and respect
Redressing exclusion 鈥� recognising and tackling the ways people have been left out of decisions
Undoing barriers 鈥� making it easier for people to take part
Sharing power 鈥� involving people in decisions from the beginning
Time 鈥� allowing relationships and ideas to develop
The collection includes examples of older people helping to shape neighbourhoods and social housing, as well as research with older refugees, people from minority communities and older LGBT+ people. It also explores creative ways of working, including film, photography, comics, poetry and art.
Ten years of working with communities
MUARG was established in 2016 to bring together researchers, older people, community organisations and policymakers to improve understanding of ageing in cities and help create better places to grow older.
Over the past decade, its work has shown how research can go beyond simply asking people for their views. Instead, communities can help decide what research is needed, shape how it is carried out and influence what happens as a result.
The collection was launched at MUARG's 10-year anniversary event, which brought together older people, community groups, policymakers, charities and researchers to reflect on the group's work and consider what should happen next.
鈥淐o-production is not simply about asking people for their views 鈥� it is also about changing how research is done by sharing power, valuing people's experiences and building relationships based on trust,鈥� said Professor Tine Buffel, Director of MUARG.
Over the past ten years, we have learnt from both the successes and challenges of working in this way. We hope this collection will help others to develop stronger partnerships with communities.
MUARG hopes the collection will provide practical ideas for researchers, policymakers, community organisations and others looking for better ways to involve people in decisions that affect their lives.