In 2023/24, Active Cornwall – together with partners in public health at Cornwall Council – set out to develop a 10-year approach to increasing residents’ physical activity, underpinned by evidence and guided by local people’s experiences. While the organisation had access to standard local authority data, it needed to delve deeper to gain a comprehensive picture of who is, and who isn’t, physically active the area, the impact of wider determinants including systemic barriers and enablers, and how that differs across the region.
We were searching for a different way to understand under-represented groups and people’s experience of inequalities in the places where they live, work and play.
- Craig Handford, Partnerships Manager at Active Cornwall, notes the desire to do things differently
Partnerships to understand local needs
On the quest for a new, innovative approach, Active Cornwall partnered with The Young Foundation, to better understand the role of physical activity in helping to change lives across Cornwall.
Participatory research as a new kind of methodology
Dan Farag, our Director of Innovation and Practice explains: “We delivered participatory research training and facilitated collaborative ways of working that enabled Active Cornwall to tap into the energy, ideas, and desire for change that exists within Cornwall’s communities – starting with Penzance and St Austell. This approach leads to sustainable change that is embedded into a local community, as people have ownership over the knowledge they’ve surfaced and action they’ve helped create.”
Craig continues, “We hadn’t heard of this methodology ahead of this collaboration, and it really spoke to our desire to do things differently. Since its commissioning there has been lots of interest in the project locally and following the project Cornwall Council started delivery on a £5m NIHR investment with a major community research component.”
One participant noted, “I’m reassured that Active Cornwall is interested in hearing the raw, real, ‘ugly’ truth of what [the people of] St Austell actually want and need to make movement a positive choice in their lives.”
The work generated insights on multiple levels; individual, organisation, place-based and system, and uncovered themes that have an impact on locals’ activity, such as tourism, dispersed populations, and perceptions of community safety and cohesion.
Working as a bridge between the local community and this project has given me a sense of purpose and a feeling of belonging in a place where I didn’t previously feel that I fitted.
- a participant, who trained as a participatory researcher as part of the project, reflects on their experience
Key learnings and insights from the community research project
The project proved transformative for the community. And, for Active Cornwall, Craig reflects, “We had not anticipated the extent to which this work was an investment in change for our organisation and transformational for members of the team.”
Key organisational learnings for Active Cornwall include:
- The importance of being actively involved in the research and innovation process, rather than treating it as a traditional commissioned piece of work.
- The value of challenging conventional approaches and innovating to drive different outcomes.
- The significance of creating safe, authentic spaces for community engagement.
The work has directly influenced Active Cornwall’s new strategic framework, organisational beliefs and behaviours, and diversity and inclusion action plans. It also informed a new insight and learning lead role within the organisation to take this work forward.
Next steps: building on community research and engagement
Building on the work, Active Cornwall now intends to:
- Return to communities to unpack the emerging themes, engage with identified system partners and deepen a shared understanding of the issues at hand.
- Work with communities to ‘test and learn’ actions identified through the research, hosting community-connecting events and collaborative design workshops.
- Continue building capability and confidence within the organisation to maintain a participatory approach to community engagement and research.
Implications for other regions: lessons from a pioneering new model of partnership
This project demonstrates a new model of partnership between local authorities and research and innovation organisations, working alongside local people to better understand issues and develop solutions together.
Active Cornwall is pioneering a new approach to working alongside citizens as partners to address the root causes of physical inactivity. As this work, and new relationships with communities, continue to evolve, we believe it holds promise not just for Cornwall, but as a model for other regions seeking to address similar challenges around physical activity, community wellbeing and inequality.
- Dan reflects on its potential as a model for other regions
Impact at-a-glance: how community research has shaped change in Cornwall
- Influenced the delivery of a £5m NIHR investment led by Cornwall Council with a major community research component.
- Positive impact for the local community, including an improved sense of belonging.
- Influenced Active Cornwall’s new strategic framework, organisational beliefs and behaviours.
- Influenced Active Cornwall’s diversity and inclusion action plans.
- Informed a new insight and learning role within Active Cornwall to take this work forward.
To discuss this model and approach, or find out more about The Young Foundation’s work, please contact [email protected]