The Innovation Zones at Queen’s University Belfast, led by Mitchell Institute Fellows Dr Liam O’Hare and Dr Laura Dunne recently launched two community research toolkits.

Former President of Ireland Dr Mary McAleese launched the Community Research Toolkit, produced by Queen’s University Belfast Innovation Zones with the Tallaght Childhood Development Initiative and the Greater Shankill Partnership’s Children and Young People Zone.   The Toolkit offers clear guidance on peer research, youth engagement and co‑design, showing how collaboration across communities and academia can build trust, amplify local voices and generate evidence that strengthens services and policy.  The initiative was supported through the Shared Island Initiative.

Complementing this, Innovation Zones recently launched the Common Health Assets (CHA) Toolkit, co‑designed with https://www.newcolin.com/ and Oak Healthy Living Centre.

Drawing on rigorous mixed‑methods, realist evaluation led by Professor Rachel Baker (Glasgow Caledonian University) with 4 universities (including Queens) and 14 community‑led organisation (CLO) partners across the UK.  The CHA Toolkit translates research into practical steps for a CLO to enhance social connectedness, capabilities and mental wellbeing in their communities.

Innovation Zones Director Dr Liam O’Hare said:

“Closer partnerships between academia and communities are essential for meaningful research impact.”

Since 2016 Queen’s University Innovation Zones team have worked in partnership with two local community organisations to drive forward social innovation and improve outcomes for children, young people, families and the community as whole.

The two communities they work with are the The Greater Shankill Children & Young People Zone and the Colin Neighbourhood Partnership (CNP). 

The Innovation Zones' mission is working together to drive social innovation in the form of evidence based programmes and practices that have considered not only what works, but also who it works for and if is appropriate in these communities facing many challenges.  Together they are enhancing community assets through social innovation in order to improve outcomes for children, young people, families and the community as a whole.

The CHA project was funded by the NIHR Public Health Research programme (NIHR 129118).