The Colin Neighbourhood Partnership (an Innovation Zones founding partner), Oak Healthy Living Centre and the Bogside and Brandywell Health Forum provided a rich discussion enhancing and validating the emerging findings from the CHA project.

As part of the CHA’s realist evaluation approach, the research team across the UK (Belfast, Glasgow, London and Bournemouth) have been developing statements, or ‘programme theories’ describing how CLOs impact on health and wellbeing in disadvantaged communities.  These statements relate to a range of data collection underway including; literature and policy review, stakeholder interviews, photovoice and a longitudinal survey. The initial draft programme theories were shared with our CLO partners, some of whom have over 20 years of experience working in community development.

We discussed how choice, empowerment and flexibility are critical to providing an inviting and safe space for those who are seeking support or connections with others.  The challenging financial environments in which CLOs operate featured heavily in our discussions.  The cost-of-living crisis, the lack of leadership in NI government and the withdrawal of funds for core service provision is weighing heavily on the sector at this time.  The CHA project can capture some of these critical concerns, as barriers to providing consistent, sustainable community-based support. The research will also capture enablers and hopes to influence policy, to enhance the landscape of service provision.

Our next CHA milestone is to welcome the whole project team of 20+ researchers from around the UK to Belfast soon, where we will present the full findings of our stakeholder workshops in Queen’s, building on the process of theory development across the UK.

For more information contact Dr Karen Galway k.galway@qub.ac.uk