1. Fishing from opposite banks - same river, different fish? Can participatory action research bring service users and practitioners together?

2. Fishing from opposite banks - same river, different fish? Andy Cheng a.cheng@sussex.ac.uk Professor Imogen Taylor i.j.taylor@sussex.ac.uk

3. In this presentation About the Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) project About the participants What they wanted How we brought them together What we have been getting Concluding words

4. About the KTP project Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) supports UK businesses wanting to improve their competitiveness, productivity and performance by accessing the knowledge and expertise available within UK Universities and Colleges. www.ktponline.org.uk

5. NCDA Services include: Nursery Youth service Healthy Lifestyles Family Learning Open Spaces Community Centre Community Action & support NewCEP Information Hub Sompriti Well-being centres WRAP & recovery service Counselling Education & Well-being www.ncda.org.uk

6. Newhaven

7. Different fish? Service Users Who want to: do something worthwhile build social contacts (addressing feelings of isolation) make a contribution (often in gratitude for past services) find ways of doing more activities with NCDA learn new skills have a fun and rewarding time and in some cases build confidence (for example - speaking with strangers) Practitioners (NCDA Staff) Who want to: maintain good relationships with service users (to not ‘rock the boat’) set up realistic expectations avoid issues that they had no chance of addressing through their repertoire of services ensure results that are relevant to them find methods that are not onerous to implement, easy to understand and that deliver tangible results in the short term

8. Different tackle? Service Users Important messages: Crucial role in project Recognising and celebrating personal expertise that comes from lived experience Develop a clear and simple message about the purpose of this project (together) Practitioners (NCDA Staff) Have to be involved (job role) Important messages: NCDA “aren't broke” Help to recognise and celebrate Ensure products of evaluation are useful to staff Ensure Staff stay in control of services

9. In the net? 8 experimental actions (participant led inquiries) Some more successful than others Particularly successful: themed semi-structured informal participant inquiries, co-hosted by service users Already getting new and rich details about impact which staff recognise add value to the standard metrics they carry out. Helps evidence the feedback they had been receiving informally. Some services users reporting feeling more confident and that they are learning new skills.

10. In conclusion? Can participatory action research bring service users and practitioners together… for the function of service evaluation and impact measurement? Yes.

11. Fishing from opposite banks - same river, different fish? Thank you for Listening Any Questions? Andy Cheng a.cheng@sussex.ac.uk Professor Imogen Taylor i.j.taylor@sussex.ac.uk