I’ll be honest, I’ve never been one for learning from books. I wouldn’t like to tell you how many times my Mum caught me having a nap while I was meant to be studying!
I have always preferred to get hands on and give something a go under the guidance of someone who knows what they’re doing.
After all, there are some things you simply can’t learn by reading a book or sitting in a classroom. Learning to ride a bike, for example. I remember clearly the summer I learned to ride a bike, cycling up and down the garden with my uncle holding the back of my bike, his grip getting looser and looser as my confidence grew, until he wasn’t holding on at all.
Believe it or not, research is a bit like this. Although the word “research” may conjure up images of lab coats, dusty archives or textbooks full of technical requirements, I’ve learned more about research by doing than I ever have by reading. Getting more people involved in research is a major part of a new initiative being delivered across Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock Councils.
The Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC) Greater Essex is seeking to increase research capability across Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock Councils. This will involve a range of learning and development opportunities for council staff; some that are more traditional ‘training’, and others that encourage learning by getting involved in the research we’ll be doing.
What will this look like?
Firstly, for each HDRC research project, we will be gathering what I like to call a ‘team around a theme’ – a group of invested stakeholders who will come with us on the research journey. They will be involved in shaping the research and making decisions about what action should be taken as the findings emerge.
Secondly, we will soon be launching a fellowship scheme, offering future leaders across Greater Essex the opportunity to work with us on a research project one day a week for 6 to 12 months. The fellows will be really hands on, working closely with HDRC researchers and academics to learn and develop practical research skills that they can take back and apply to current and future roles.
To find out more about our research projects, fellowship scheme and other exciting learning and development opportunities, subscribe to the HDRC’s newsletter, join the Research Community of Practice or email Hannah directly at Hannah.Taylor@essex.gov.uk.
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