The Hull We Want

#thehullwewant is a community partnership project, hosted at the University, which explores the needs of communities aiming to inspire their dreams. The project works across new and established communities and generations in the city; including young people, students, partners, service providers and policy/decision-makers. It is built on our research ethos of EmPAR: a combination of emancipatory and participatory research approaches, which seeks to shift power imbalances by foregrounding and valuing the voices of participants as experts in their lived experience.

The project utilised novel engagement tools including a conversation couch and a wishing washing tree which displayed needs and dreams. The tools were unusual but familiar so generated a welcoming atmosphere. This enabled participatory research to take place in the form of storytelling through informal conversations. The asset-based community development aspect enabled us to draw out, recognise and value what is strong not wrong in communities. We identified assets and potential – and, using radical community development, explored issues raised in dialogue.

#thehullwewant project built strong and trusted relationships with participants and partners as part of the process. Building connectedness and collaboration to encourage shared ownership and involvement in decision-making, culture change, social transformation and social justice.