Can digital healthcare work for everyone? Exploring lived experiences and the role of community organisations.
Digital tools are becoming part of everyday healthcare, but do they work for everyone? What can we learn by listening to people’s experiences — and how can community organisations help shape that learning?
Join us on 8th December to hear about research linked to an evaluation of MyWay Diabetes, a free app and online service recommended and funded by NHS Somerset to help people manage their diabetes.
Dr Rhiannon Hawkes (Research Fellow, University of Manchester) will share findings from a study exploring why people with diabetes may choose not to engage with digital and online tools to manage their diabetes. Rhiannon and the team heard from 35 people through six focus groups across England. With support from Spark’s Joanna Bogunska, one group came together at St Peter’s Community Centre in Yeovil in September 2025, bringing local experiences into the wider study.
Rhiannon will explain what people shared about trust in digital tools, choice, and the importance of human connection. She’ll also reflect on her experience of carrying out research in Somerset and how local relationships helped bring people into the conversation.
Joanna will share her perspective on supporting academic research for the first time, from navigating unfamiliar processes to bringing people together and helping ensure their contributions were recognised. Together, they’ll explore what helped, what proved challenging and what others could take from the experience.
Interested in shaping research and learning within your organisation? Come and explore how your community knowledge, relationships and ideas can help shape research and develop meaningful, respectful ways of learning together.
This one-hour online session will include time for questions and discussion. Community organisations, researchers and anyone curious about working and learning together are welcome.
