#WeAreTogether: Beds highlights research & community support during Covid19

Fri 05 March, 2021

The University of Bedfordshire is celebrating its successful research projects and community support activities undertaken during the pandemic, as part of UUK’s second #WeAreTogether campaign.

Taking place between 5^th and 14^th March, this year’s strand of the #WeAreTogether initiative – spearheaded by Universities UK (UUK) – will focus on showcasing the invaluable research conducted by higher education institutes across the UK, as well as showcasing ways universities have stepped up to support their local communities throughout the Covid19 disruption.

Here are just some of the latest research and community support highlights that the University of Bedfordshire will be sharing across its social media channels during UUK’s #WeAreTogether campaign…

The University kicked off 2021 with an excellent research-based event hosted by Dr Violet Cuffy – ‘Decolonising Artistic and Cultural leadership / transforming the creative industries’.

Guest speakers from Arts Council England, Luton’s Bute Street Festival and Bedfordshire’s Arts & Culture Projects team were invited to discuss the lack of inclusion and diversity in the UK’s creative arts scene.

Dr Violet Cuffy said: “Hosting a Beds Talk is a good way to raise the profile of the work we do as academics here at the University and serves to showcase the wider impact of our research and innovative teaching strategies on the community, both locally and internationally.

“The theme of our event is timely given the issues we have faced globally over the last two years and the number of closures of black, Asian and minority ethnic-owned artistic and creative small businesses, as well as the large portion of individuals and families who have been negatively affected by the pandemic.”

This ‘BedsTalks’ event can be watched again on the University’s YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/QreRiJOqnbY

Read the full news story here.

The University is shining a spotlight on Luton’s creative arts scene during lockdown, in a new community show aired weekly on Radio LaB.

‘Little Red Live’ is co-hosted by Student Station Manager, Megan Murphy, and local activist, Shemiza Rashid, in partnership with grassroots arts hub, Little Red Arts, and features a special guest from Luton’s arts community each week.

Shemiza Rashid said: “With the pandemic ensuing, it feels even more important that we give hope and respite to our listeners and collaborating with Little Red Arts seemed like the perfect opportunity to provide that lift that we are all in need of.”

Tune in every Tuesday at 10am: https://radiolab.beds.ac.uk/

Read the full news story here.

This year, the Innovation & Enterprise Service has produced a video showcasing the economic impact and variety of research projects conducted by the University’s academics and Research Institutes.

Watch the video on the University’s YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/KUMKSntb7yU

Dr Nicholas Lancaster, Director of IES, said: “This video is a great way to illustrate the University’s commitment to leading industrially focused research, whilst contributing to the more human aspect of our regional economy, supporting local communities and beyond.”

Read the full news story here.

Law students at Bedfordshire’s Business School are taking their community Law Clinic activity online, allowing them to safely continue offering free legal advice and support to members of the public. The next two virtual Law Clinics will be taking place on 10^th & 24^th March 2021. Find out more online: www.beds.ac.uk/lawclinic

Samira Hussain, Senior Tutor in Law and the University’s Law Clinic Coordinator, said: “The Law Clinic offers an invaluable service to the community, allowing our students the opportunity to practically apply the knowledge and skills they have acquired during their degrees to help others. Our Law Clinic gives the public an opportunity to confidently engage with free initial advice and receive support on matters relating to housing, consumer and employment law.”

Read the full news story here.

In partnership with Luton Council, the Institute for Health Research (IHR) has launched a community health project to research and tackle Covid19 inequalities amongst Luton’s Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Indian, black African and black Caribbean communities.

Gurch Randhawa, Professor of Diversity in Public Health and Director of IHR, said: “The University of Bedfordshire is committed to ensuring a voice for all communities affected by Covid19. We are delighted to be working with Luton Borough Council to develop community-centred solutions to reduce health inequalities.”

People can take part in the TLC Project’s latest community survey online: https://bedshealthsciences.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4VdMgZHHrZfdz5b

Read the full news story here.

The Institute for Applied Social Research (IASR) has secured £297k in funding to study how teenage care leavers have been impacted by the knock-on effects of the Covid19 pandemic.

The 18-month ‘Care leavers, Covid-19 and the Transition from Care’ study will be conducted by researchers from University’s Tilda Goldberg Centre for Social Work & Social Care.

Emily Munro, Professor of Social Work Research and Director of IASR, said: “Our hope is that this research will contribute to understanding the impact that the pandemic has had on the health and wellbeing of care leavers and will help inform the development of services and support that are responsive to the diverse needs of young people leaving care.”

Read the full news story here.

Independent swim school, Happy Tiddlers, was one of the many local companies that received free business support through the University’s Innovation & Enterprise Service during the pandemic in 2020.

Dr Rhidian Lewis, Associate Dean of Enterprise & Employability at Bedfordshire’s Business School, said: “We’re here to support our local business community through various initiatives and opportunities, ranging from consultancy, targeted projects, training and funding – and of course, we remain a source of talent, supporting businesses now and into the future.”

Read the full news story here.

SMART (Substance Misuse & Ageing Research Team) academics from the University’s Institute of Applied Social Research (IASR) have published their findings from a recent study for Drink Wise, Age Well UK, in partnership with Glasgow Caledonian University.

The study investigated how effective remote and virtual alcohol support has helped older people during the Covid19 lockdowns.

Dr Jennifer Seddon, Research Fellow with IASR and SMART, said: “Many treatment services for alcohol use moved to a model of remote service support during the pandemic. However, we found that face-to-face contact was an essential part of supporting older adults in alcohol treatment. Treatment services may see increased demand as a result of the pandemic, therefore it’s important that services consider the needs of older adults, many of whom may be marginalised by a remote model of service provision.”

Read the full news story here.

During lockdown the University has continued to run free events and public lectures to benefit the local community, as well as Bedfordshire’s students and staff.

This month, Professor Rebecca Bunting, Vice Chancellor, will be hosting a space and star-themed virtual talk and Q&A with inspirational astrophysicist and STEM advocate, Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell.

Initially launched in 2020 during the height of the Covid19 disruption, the #WeAreTogether campaign has helped unite universities and shine a light on some of the academic achievements and good news stories to come out of the pandemic.