#WeAreTogether: Beds highlights research & community support during Covid19

Fri 05 March, 2021
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The 亚色视频 is celebrating its successful research projects and community support activities undertaken during the pandemic, as part of UUK鈥檚 second #WeAreTogether campaign.

Taking place between 5th and 14th March, this year鈥檚 strand of the #WeAreTogether initiative 鈥 spearheaded by (UUK) 鈥 will focus on showcasing the invaluable research conducted by higher education institutes across the UK, as well as showcasing ways universities have stepped up to support their local communities throughout the Covid19 disruption.

Here are just some of the latest research and community support highlights that the 亚色视频 will be sharing across its social media channels during UUK鈥檚 肠补尘辫补颈驳苍鈥


The University kicked off 2021 with an excellent research-based event hosted by Dr Violet Cuffy鈥楧ecolonising Artistic and Cultural leadership / transforming the creative industries鈥.

Dr Violet CuffyGuest speakers from Arts Council England, Luton鈥檚 Bute Street Festival and Bedfordshire鈥檚 Arts & Culture Projects team were invited to discuss the lack of inclusion and diversity in the UK鈥檚 creative arts scene.

Dr Violet Cuffy said: 鈥淗osting a Beds Talk is a good way to raise the profile of the work we do as academics here at the 亚色视频 and serves to showcase the wider impact of our research and innovative teaching strategies on the community, both locally and internationally.

鈥淭he theme of our event is timely given the issues we have faced globally over the last two years and the number of closures of black, Asian and minority ethnic-owned artistic and creative small businesses, as well as the large portion of individuals and families who have been negatively affected by the pandemic.鈥

This 鈥楤edsTalks鈥 event can be watched again on the University鈥檚 YouTube channel:

Read the full news story here.


The University is shining a spotlight on Luton鈥檚 creative arts scene during lockdown, in a new community show aired weekly on Radio LaB.

Radio LaB鈥楲ittle Red Live鈥 is co-hosted by Student Station Manager, Megan Murphy, and local activist, Shemiza Rashid, in partnership with grassroots arts hub, Little Red Arts, and features a special guest from Luton鈥檚 arts community each week.

Shemiza Rashid said: 鈥淲ith the pandemic ensuing, it feels even more important that we give hope and respite to our listeners and collaborating with Little Red Arts seemed like the perfect opportunity to provide that lift that we are all in need of.鈥

Tune in every Tuesday at 10am:

Read the full news story here.


This year, the Innovation & Enterprise Service has produced a video showcasing the economic impact and variety of research projects conducted by the University鈥檚 academics and Research Institutes.

Watch the video on the University鈥檚 YouTube channel:

Dr Nicholas Lancaster, Director of听IES, said: 鈥淭his video is a great way to illustrate the University鈥檚 commitment to leading industrially focused research, whilst contributing to the more human aspect of our regional economy, supporting local听communities and beyond.鈥

Read the full news story here.


Law students at Bedfordshire鈥檚 Business School are taking their community Law Clinic activity online, allowing them to safely continue offering free legal advice and support to members of the public. 听The next two virtual Law Clinics will be taking place on 10th & 24th March 2021. Find out more online:

Law Clinic flyer

Samira Hussain, Senior Tutor in Law and the University鈥檚 Law Clinic Coordinator,听said: 鈥淭he Law Clinic offers an invaluable service to the community, allowing our students the opportunity to practically apply the knowledge and skills they have acquired during their degrees to help others. Our Law Clinic gives the public an opportunity to confidently engage with free initial advice and receive support on matters relating to housing, consumer and employment law.鈥

Read the full news story here.


In partnership with Luton Council, the Institute for Health Research (IHR) has launched a community health project to research and tackle Covid19 inequalities amongst Luton鈥檚 Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Indian, black African and black Caribbean communities.

TLC Flyer

Gurch Randhawa, Professor of Diversity in Public Health and Director of IHR, said: 鈥淭he 亚色视频 is committed to ensuring a voice for all communities affected by Covid19. We are delighted to be working with听Luton Borough Council听to develop community-centred solutions to reduce health inequalities.鈥

People can take part in the TLC Project鈥檚 latest community survey online:

Read the full news story here.


The Institute for Applied Social Research (IASR) has secured 拢297k in funding to study how teenage care leavers have been impacted by the knock-on effects of the Covid19 pandemic.

Tilda Goldberg CentreThe 18-month 鈥楥are leavers, Covid-19 and the Transition from Care鈥 study will be conducted by researchers from University鈥檚 Tilda Goldberg Centre for Social Work & Social Care.

Emily Munro, Professor of Social Work Research and Director of IASR, said: 鈥淥ur hope is that this research will contribute to understanding the impact that the pandemic has had on the health and wellbeing of care leavers and will help inform the development of services and support that are responsive to the diverse needs of young people leaving care.鈥

Read the full news story here.


Happy TiddlersIndependent swim school, Happy Tiddlers, was one of the many local companies that received free business support through the University鈥檚 Innovation & Enterprise Service during the pandemic in 2020.

Dr Rhidian Lewis, Associate Dean of Enterprise & Employability at Bedfordshire鈥檚 Business School, said: 鈥淲e鈥檙e here to support our local business community through various initiatives and opportunities, ranging from consultancy, targeted projects, training and funding 鈥 and of course, we remain a source of talent, supporting businesses now and into the future.鈥

Read the full news story here.


SMART听(Substance Misuse & Ageing Research Team) academics from the University鈥檚 Institute of Applied Social Research (IASR) have published their findings from a recent study for Drink Wise, Age Well UK, in partnership with Glasgow Caledonian University.

Drink Wise Age Well

The study investigated how effective remote and virtual alcohol support has helped older people during the Covid19 lockdowns.

Dr Jennifer Seddon, Research Fellow with IASR and SMART, said:听鈥淢any treatment services for alcohol use moved to a model of remote service support during the pandemic. However, we found that face-to-face contact was an essential part of supporting older adults in alcohol treatment. Treatment services may see increased demand as a result of the pandemic, therefore it鈥檚 important that services consider the needs of older adults, many of whom may be marginalised by a remote model of service provision.鈥

Read the full news story here.


During lockdown the University has continued to run free events and public lectures to benefit the local community, as well as Bedfordshire鈥檚 students and staff.

Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell event

This month, Professor Rebecca Bunting, Vice Chancellor, will be hosting a space and star-themed virtual talk and Q&A with inspirational astrophysicist and STEM advocate, Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell.

Register for free tickets .


WeAreTogether campaign bannerInitially launched in 2020 during the height of the Covid19 disruption, the campaign has helped unite universities and shine a light on some of the academic achievements and good news stories to come out of the pandemic.

For further updates about University news, events and research projects, follow on Twitter and Instagram.

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