Programme Overview
Tuesday 11 November 2025
Main Conference
10am - Registration, Tea and Coffee
10.30am - Welcome and Introductions
11am - A Reflection Marking Remembrance Day
11.05 - Further updates from the network including a presentation Exploring Experiences of Power in Community-Led Research.
With Sophie Rose Kendrick and Lewis Hou
11.10 - Findings of the “Doing Mental Health and Wellbeing Research with Rural Communities” Co-Priority Survey
With Rachel Erskine (NCRRHC, NHS Education for Scotland), Louise McQuaid (Youth Scotland and Young Islanders Network), Shannon Boston (OPEN Shetland), Remi Martin (African, Asian & Mixed Heritage Association), Sarah-Anne Munoz (NCRRHC, NHS Education for Scotland), Haiyin Xu (St Andrews graduate), and Lewis Hou (Science Ceilidh, Community Knowledge Matters)
The morning will kick off with a presentation from the Co-Priority working group, sharing findings and learnings from the “Doing Mental Health and Wellbeing Research with Rural Communities” Co-Priority Survey conducted between June and July 2024. The group will share the findings of this survey, which was developed and analysed by the working group, including community members, focusing on the needs and priorities around rural and island mental health. You’ll get a chance to understand the findings and key learning from the process, and take part in the launching of an online platform to share back and explore the data.
12pm - Community-Led Research Spotlights
These are “spotlights” hearing directly from communities leading their own research projects across Scotland to share their findings, insights and reflections on the process.
OPEN Youth-Led Charity Transformational change
With Rhiannan Burns, Shannon Boston, and Una Murray (OPEN, Shetland)
This spotlight highlights OPEN’s transformational journey to becoming Shetland’s first youth-led charity. Together, young people, professional researchers and decision makers have built strong partnerships, shared knowledge, and created new ways of working that put young people’s voices at the heart of community decisions. From developing a unique governance structure to leading research projects, OPEN has shown how evidence from young people can shape real change.
From harnessing the power of lived experience to a peer-led social movement for change: the Moray Wellbeing Hub Journey
With Aimee Wright and Heidi Tweedie (Moray Wellbeing Hub CIC)
This spotlight will share the journey the Moray Wellbeing Hub has experienced in research. The presentation will cover their learning so far reframing their activities through the lens of research, developing partnerships, exploring the role of peer research, and taking a values-based approach to community research. This journey began with promoting positive wellbeing for all and harnessing the power of lived experience in Moray, leading to the eventual founding Collaboration for Mental Wealth, a Community Research Network in Moray, as a peer-led social movement for change.
Growing Together with Space 2 Be, Lochaber
With Nick Barnes, Katy Duncan, and Jack Soe-Paing (NHS Highland and Space 2 Be)
This spotlight shares how community-led research has enabled and informed co-development and sustainability of outdoor, wilderness and nature connected opportunities for children, young people and families in Lochaber. Space 2 Be will share some experiences setting up and delivering opportunities, including insights from the perspectives of a participant, peer researcher, provider, and researcher. The presentation will cover their journey, from initial steps of collaboration, through a culture of co-production and peer-led research, and on to allowing for the potential of wider systems change.
Beyond Barriers: Bringing the First Playstreet to Inverness
With Emily Kynaston-Williams (Crown Connects)
A playstreet is a really simple concept - residents can come together to open their street for play and socialising by temporarily closing it to cars. The reality of making this happen in Inverness has been far from simple. This presentation will share the journey of the first playstreet held in the Highland Council region. The spotlight will share the joy of a playstreet and the research into the barriers to the scheme in Scotland.
1pm - Lunch
Lunch and networking with locally cooked food.
1.45pm - Pick your own path: Network Library Conversations and Active Listening Walks
In this session there will be an opportunity to meet members of the network and peruse and learn about the “tools” and “stories” as short 15 minute discussions led by members and partners. This includes sharings from:
The Scottish Islands Research Networks: sharing the experience of setting up the network and co-writing a set of guidelines for research in island communities, with participants in the BAECRN-funded Island Futures project.
The Young Islanders Network: sharing the successes and challenges of managing a network of partners and young people contributing to meaningful youth participation in Island policy making.
Research Data Scotland: sharing about the process of accessing data as well as how the public voice is included in their work and why partner working is so central to their engagement activities.
The Discovery College (Centred): sharing key findings from their Peer Research Group Report 2024 and some of the 'next questions' it raises.
Annexe Communities: sharing the Communiversity Project and how the partnership with the University of Glasgow brings together the expertise from both the Community and the University by training up local peer researchers to undertake research in their community.
The Scottish Community Development Centre: sharing what it does and SCDC thoughts on why community-led research should be valued properly and invite discussions on this.
There will also be an opportunity to go on an Active Listening walk in small pairs facilitated by Moray Wellbeing Hub. This will be a space to meet peers and practice a key peer research and support skill Active Listening.
Finalise your chosen path with a short Comfort and Coffee Break.
3pm - Discussion Tables
In this session there will be focused thematic tables which will be structured to focus discussions, collate resources, develop ideas and collaborative action and explore collective asks for decision makers and future change.
Young People-Led Research
Funding
Health & Social Care
Community-Researcher Partnerships
Creative Coproduction
Ethics and Climate Action
4.15pm - Short Break
4.30 - What Next - Listening Panel
Chaired by: Lewis Hou - Science Ceilidh Director, Community Knowledge Matters
Anthea Innes - Professor of Health Services Research, University of the Highlands and Islands
Lewie Peterson - Partnership Officer, Youth & Employability Service, Shetland Islands Council
Elizabeth McQuaid - Young islander, Young Islander Network
Kirsty Neal - Grants Manager for The Ideas Fund, British Science Association
Katie Oldfield - Senior Engagement Manager, Research Data Scotland
Aala Ross - Co-Head of Regenerative Futures Fund, Foundation Scotland
5.10pm - Rounding Up and Next Steps
Evening(Sharing Cèilidh)
7pm - Doors Open
7.30pm - Soft Welcome and Local Food Provided
8.30pm - Sharing Cèilidh starts
The ceilidh will include traditional dances from the award-winning Science Ceilidh band. In between dance sets there will be short spaces open to brief creative sharing from members and partners of the network on themes around community-led research - poem, story, explaining a picture or object.
11pm - Evening Finishes
Optional partner organised workshops
Participatory Arts and Co-Production Workshop
Monday 10 November, 2pm - 4pm.
For those who are arriving into Inverness earlier, there will be a hands-on workshop on Monday afternoon exploring the role of arts and co-production with Helen Berry in collaboration with the Binks Hub. Due to limited capacity, those who expressed their interest in this workshop via the registration form will receive further details and a separate confirmation of their place. Any additional availability will be announced here.
Mental Wealth Safari: Be a part of a shared journey and experience Moray communities in action through research
Wednesday 12 November, 9.30am - 3pm.
For those who are still in the area on Wednesday, you are invited to join a Community Research Safari in Moray hosted by our partners at the Collaboration for Mental Wealth in Moray community research network (a community research network funded by UKRI).
This “safari” will tour around Moray from coast to mountains, farmland to cultural towns, to understand the place and people, experiencing communities in action through research. Enhance your research skills and understanding as you dive into local issues and research opportunities with engaging activities, training, and networking. Build leadership and mentoring skills, discover diverse research techniques, and collaborate on innovative solutions tailored to community needs.
Join for the full tour or a part of it, connecting with Moray’s vibrant community and inspiring new collaborations.
Find the full information and register for the Mental Wealth Safari here.
Workshop with Research Data Scotland: Shaping Scotland's future using data for research to benefit the public
Wednesday 12 November, 10am - 12pm.
For those who are still in the area on Wednesday, you are welcome to join this interactive workshop to explore how public sector data is collected and used about people across Scotland—and how it can be used to shape better policies and improve lives. Through real-world and mock examples and group discussion, you’ll examine both the benefits and risks of using public sector data in decision-making.
Participants will actively contribute to shaping Research Data Scotland’s evolving criteria on 'public good' in the context of data use. By the end, you’ll not only have deepened your understanding of public sector data, you’ll have also played a role in helping us to create public good criteria for data access.
Find the full session description and register for this Workshop here.