We face major local and global issues of social injustice in society. It is crucial that we come together to create change to enable people to live fulfilling and flourishing lives. To do this we have to think, reflect and do things differently because we are encountering uncertainty with climate change, levels of poverty are high and exacerbated by the cost of living and the rise of the Far Right means that our communities are unsettled and divided. We need a movement, which embraces people-led change facilitated by equitable, participatory practices to build solidarity and connectedness. The divisions sewn into society through the major issues we face are becoming deep rooted so we need to act.

In the city we have many initiatives that are trying to work differently, which we hope to draw together within a Participatory Collective. Much of the approach is influenced by the Ideas Fund and its capacity to embrace these different ways of deciding and doing.

In 2020 the Welcome Trust, funded the British Science Association [BSA] to co-design and deliver a programme that could engage grassroots communities, which they don’t usually reach. The BSA Ideas Fund [IF] is an innovative community-led knowledge exchange programme in four pilot areas, Hull, Oldham, Highlands and Islands and Northwest Northern Ireland, with 4 criteria: 1. community-led, 2. a defined geographical area, 3. a broad theme of mental wellbeing and 4. develop a relationship with a researcher for equitable knowledge exchange. The IF allows time to support the creation of partnerships, which have the potential to make a difference in addressing community identified needs.

The BSA IF team created the innovative role of the development coordinator [DC] and together the national team and DCs are weavers, brokers, enablers, connectors, catalysts, matchmakers, power-shifters and facilitators supporting the project changemakers. Having local DCs provides a people-led, place-based approach to support the whole process from initial expression of interest [EOI] to completion of projects and beyond has been valuable. In Hull DCs mirrored the Ideas Fund projects model with a community (Kate) and university (Gill) partner working together – both well connected with Hull’s communities.

Across the 4 areas over 70 community-led projects have achieved some amazing outcomes.