Mission
Community Knowledge Matters is a new network bringing together people interested in community-led research shaping practice & policy change in mental health and wellbeing in the Highlands & Islands and beyond.
The network will build collective voice and capacity through a programme of activities – including network events, collation of resources and funded training opportunities – working together to support more community knowledge represented at a systemic level.
Who is this for?
Anyone is welcome to join, including:
Grassroots communities and organisations in the Highlands and Islands who are interested in being more involved in research to support community action including around mental health and wellbeing.
Researchers who are keen to support more equitable processes and partnerships that centre communities through an ethics of care.
Practitioners and decision-makers interested in being more driven by community-led research and working together to support a more equitable and diverse system evidence-base.
Stakeholders from across Scotland and beyond interested in learning from this network and sharing your own experiences.
How can you get involved?
To help foster connections, build relationships and share opportunities, news and challenges together we have monthly peer “community of practice” open to all. Find the next dates here.
To keep conversations going on between these sessions, we have an online space as part a collaboration with platform CommunityLab.
Getting Started:
Join our network by filling out this short form here.
Sign up to the forum here and start a conversation by introducing yourself.
You can find the next Community of Practice date here.
There’s already lots of excellent activities and resources supporting community-research out there - we’re keen to bring this together to make it as easy to access as possible.
We’re also mapping consultations and ethics processes happening across Highlands and Islands already, and trialing tools and approaches which support more equitable conversations and research with marginalised communities in Shetland, Western Isles and North Highland.
Later in 2024 there will be funded training opportunities to support capacity-building available for members.
Getting Started:
Check out the resources compiled here and also shared on the CommunityLab space.
If you have a resource or activity you’d like to have added, share it directly on the forum and we can make sure it’s added to the website.
Working with members we’ll be deciding how best to support collective action together to advocate for better community-research and for community knowledge to be better represented in decision-making.
This could include compiling collective responses and evidence-building together. All members are encouraged to feed in through our stakeholder conversations and get involved in specific working groups.
Getting Started:
Join our next Community of Practice to find out more about how to be involved in decision making.
Get in touch with our network coordinator to find out about joining specific working groups.
how can communities be centred in mental health and wellbeing research?
Find out more
Community Knowledge Matters is a working name for the network and programme, funded by The Ideas Fund and Wellcome. It is currently supported by a steering group including members from Scottish Community Development Centre, Public Health Scotland, Moray Wellbeing Hub, Youthlink Scotland & Third Sector Research Forum, Scottish Policy and Research Exchange, the Scottish Public Engagement Network and University of the Highlands and Islands. It is facilitated by Science Ceilidh.
join the network and introduce yourself
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get in touch
