What is the project about?
Project Director: Professor Sarah Pearson
Project Duration: 2024-2029
Sheffield Hallam University has been awarded £10 million to lead an ambitious new project bringing together partners from across society to build stronger, more resilient communities.
The Centre for Collaboration in Community Connectedness (C4) will bring together partners from research, community, policy and civil society to develop and scale up successful community leadership approaches.
Led by Professor Sarah Pearson and Professor Peter Wells from Sheffield Hallam University, the Centre will find and share the most effective community action strategies, providing invaluable insights for both local and national policymaking, to help create equal opportunities wherever people live.
It will examine the diverse landscape of community activities, analysing what works, and what doesn’t. The goal is to establish robust evidence and infrastructure, enabling successful approaches to be scaled up and replicated.
The Centre's research will focus on key areas including:
- Community: where people live and their connections with their neighbours.
- Relationships: identifying which social interactions are most meaningful in tackling poverty, isolation and mental health.
- Social Capital: looking at the benefits derived from networks and relationships.
This ambitious project is led by Sheffield Hallam University in collaboration with regional and national partners - Clackmannanshire Third Sector Interface, Darnall Wellbeing, Local Trust, London Metropolitan University, Queen’s University Belfast, The Brixton Project, University of Stirling, and The Young Foundation.
Professor Sarah Pearson, Director of the Social and Economic Research Institute at Sheffield Hallam University, said: " Connected communities are defined as those with high levels of social bonds and cohesion, where people have good relationships, a sense of pride and belonging, and the ability to cooperate within and between places to address challenges and seize opportunities.
“The Centre represents a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between academic research and community action. By working closely with communities and decision-makers, we aim to create a more connected and resilient society.”
The Centre is supported by the UKRI's investment in creating opportunities and improving outcomes, reflecting a shared commitment to enhance community connectedness and well-being. It is one of a number of new or existing centres sharing £56 million in UKRI funding.
