Pennie Oaks

Overview

Area(s) of interest:

Pennine Oaks works with a diverse community, including children and young people, families, women, people from South Asian and other minoritised ethnic communities, refugees and asylum seekers, carers, and people who may experience health inequalities or barriers to accessing traditional services. We are particularly interested in research around health inequalities, mental health and wellbeing, nature and green social prescribing, children and young people, community resilience, inclusion, prevention and early intervention.

Additional information

Location: Barrowford, England

Barrowford| England

Mode of working: Hybrid

Hybrid| In-person preferred

We find in-person engagement at our outdoor Pennine Oaks site is often particularly effective, as participants are comfortable in this environment and conversations can happen more naturally. We can also support remote engagement where appropriate.

Research experience: Yes

Notes:

We have worked with UCL on social prescribing research and the report was created by Sam Pywell from the University based on the research we provided. We have alo worked on a Prostrate Cancer project.

Type of involvement: Co-production

Co-Production

Notes:

We strongly value co-production. Wherever possible, we would want our participants involved in shaping the research questions, deciding how engagement takes place, and understanding how their contributions have influenced the final research. Participants should feel that research is being done with them, not to them.

Availability:

Expenses:

Consider appropriate payment or recognition for people’s time and expertise, particularly when communities are being asked repeatedly to contribute to research.

Our comments to researchers:

Researchers to take a community-led, culturally sensitive and trauma-aware approach when engaging with Pennine Oaks participants. Researchers should understand that our participants come from a wide range of backgrounds and may include South Asian communities, refugees and asylum seekers, children and young people, carers, women, people experiencing health inequalities and people who may not traditionally engage with research. A standard approach will therefore not work for everyone.

This work could support Pennine Oaks by helping our participants have a stronger voice in research and ensuring that communities who are often underrepresented are involved in shaping the evidence, services and decisions that affect them. It could help build confidence and understanding around research, particularly for people who may never have considered themselves as someone who could contribute to or influence research. We would like participants to develop skills, knowledge and opportunities through their involvement, rather than simply being asked to share their experiences.

Build relationships and trust before expecting people to share personal experiences or data. Work through trusted community organisations and community leaders who already have established relationships with participants. Use clear, accessible language and avoid research, medical or academic jargon. Consider language, literacy, cultural and religious needs, disability, digital exclusion and caring responsibilities. Offer flexible ways to participate, including informal, in-person and community-based engagement rather than relying solely on online meetings or surveys. Recognise lived experience as expertise and involve participants in shaping research, rather than only asking them to respond to predetermined questions. Be transparent about why information or data is being collected, how it will be used, who will have access to it and what difference the research is expected to make.

Avoid extractive engagement where communities provide their experiences but never hear from researchers again. Close the feedback loop by returning to participants, sharing findings in an accessible way and explaining what changed as a result of their contribution.