Panel: Driving change in place

On 10 June 2025 The Young Foundation and UKRI brought together the pioneers who are transforming research and innovation through community-driven approaches. The conference explored how communities are reshaping what research and innovation can be, discovering inspiring stories and real-world learnings from UKRI-funded projects and beyond, spanning different fields, sectors, and ways of working. Together, attendees explored how to push boundaries to create better opportunities for everyone to participate in research and innovation, and spark ideas for future collaboration.

This video is of a panel session from the conference, which took a deep dive into the relationship between place-based working and community-driven R&I, tapping into growing interest in place-based policymaking and innovation, and how this can be an open door for community-led R&I across a range of disciplines.

See more about the conference

Chair: Kersten England CBE, Chair at Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture and The Young Foundation, and Co-Director of the Yorkshire Policy Innovation Partnership

Panellists:

  • Dr Lauren Baker Mitchell, Northumbria University, AHRC Creative Communities programme
  • Clair Griffiths, Xplore! Science Discovery Centre, part of the Mindsets + Missions programme
  • Professor Sarah Pearson, Sheffield Hallam University, Co-Director of the ESRC-funded Centre for Collaboration in Community Connectedness

Community Local government and public services Methods and measurement Peer research Social action Social innovation community research conference participatory research Pushing Boundaries R&I research and innovation UKRI Posted on: 3 July 2025 Authors: Kersten England CBE,

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