On Tuesday 19 September, Coventry City Council colleagues and partners came together to celebrate the Coventry HDRC reaching its 1 year milestone.
On Tuesday 19 September, Coventry City Council colleagues and partners came together to celebrate the Coventry HDRC reaching its 1 year milestone.
Opened by Professor Sir Michael Marmot and Chief Executive Julie Nugent, the event reflected on the HDRCs achievements to date, as well as looking forward to the future. There were a range of engaging sessions from several speakers, including the HDRC team, collaborators and council colleagues that spoke about the fantastic work that they are doing and the impact that having a research infrastructure will have on their areas and the dissemination of learnings.
Research Fellow, Lauren Bell, led an interactive activity that encouraged participants to think about their role in the success of the HDRC and how it could benefit their work. Participants reflected on how their expertise and existing relationships, as well as a commitment to championing and enabling research would have a positive impact on their areas.
Glen Smailes, Business Development Manager, presented on the link between health and employment and the positive impacts that the HDRC could have on this moving forward. Including more awareness of the wider social impacts of the Job Shops work, understanding the areas in Coventry in which increasing employment would most strongly correlate to higher healthy life expectancy and better understanding the link between poor mental health and unemployment and/or low-quality employment.
Laura Waller, Digital Services & Inclusion Lead, presented on the #CovConnects programme and the link between digital exclusion and poorer health outcomes. The session highlighted how the HDRC could support the programme by embedding resident voices into research and removing the barriers for engagement, as well as highlighting the impact of digital inequalities upon the wider determinants of health.
If you would like to find out more about the HDRC and how you can be involved, please email CoventryHDRC@Coventry.gov.uk