In this blog, our Research Manager, Olly, explains how a new resource can help you plan, run and learn from conversations with the people and communities you support.
Voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) organisations have conversations with people every day. You hear what is working, what people are worried about, what matters most and what they would like to see change.
That knowledge is valuable – not just to your organisation, but in helping to build a shared understanding of the needs, strengths and priorities of communities across Somerset.
Our new Community Conversation Kit provides practical guidance to help you capture and learn from these conversations.
Where did the idea come from?
The kit grew out of work with Somerset’s Research Engagement Network (REN), which explores how we can better engage under-represented groups and communities in health and care research.
National platforms such as Be Part of Research and Join Dementia Research help people find studies and ways to get involved. But not everyone will hear about these opportunities, feel confident accessing them online, or see research as relevant to them.
VCFSE organisations often have longstanding, trusted relationships within their communities. This puts them in a strong position to have conversations in familiar settings, with people they already know and trust.
As a partner in Somerset’s REN, Spark Somerset worked alongside 18 community organisations, who hosted conversations with 236 people about health research: what it meant to them, their experiences, and what might make it easier – or harder – to get involved.
A conversation resource gave hosts questions, prompts and practical guidance that they could adapt to their communities. The conversations highlighted barriers around trust, awareness and accessibility, while also demonstrating the value of working alongside community organisations to hear perspectives that are sometimes missed.
Read the Community Conversations on health research findings or download the infographic
From health research to wider conversations
Feedback from the hosts suggested that the resource could be shorter, more accessible and flexible – and useful beyond health research.
That learning led to the new Community Conversation Kit.
The kit isn’t tied to any particular subject. It’s designed to help VCFSE organisations host conversations about topics that matter to them and their communities.
You might want to explore an emerging issue, understand people’s experiences of a service, involve people in developing a new project, gather insight for a funding application, or explore something that keeps being raised in your community.
The kit guides you through choosing a topic, deciding on your format, developing questions, facilitating your conversation, capturing what you hear and sharing what you’ve learned.
It also includes practical templates and resources, including an invitation, conversation summary, example questions and prompts, reflection template and planning checklists.
You don’t need specialist skills, tools or a formal setting. It might be a conversation over coffee, a themed chat during an existing activity, a creative workshop or event, or a series of shorter conversations.
The format is completely up to you – you know your community best.
From conversation to learning
Every conversation can tell us something about what’s happening in a community. Where appropriate, sharing that learning can also help other organisations, partners and decision makers better understand what communities across Somerset are experiencing.
The kit builds on something that Somerset’s VCFSE sector already does extremely well: building relationships, listening to people and understanding communities.
Ready to have a conversation?
If you’re thinking about having conversations with people in your community, the Community Conversation Kit is there to help you get started.
Download the Community Conversation Kit and use the templates, prompts and practical guidance to plan your own conversations – in a way that works for you and your community.
If you would like to have a chat about any of the topics raised in this blog, community research or the Toolkit, our Research Manager, Olly would love to hear from you.
