The inaugural ARCFEST of ARC NWC Phase 2 formally triggered the organisation’s launch on April 28th in the coastal town of Blackpool.
ARC NWC aims to improve the lives of people by building a stronger health and social care workforce, enabling changes to services through applied research (based on the best evidence to guide decision-making) and generating additional investment for research capacity.
105 people attended in person at the Bloomfield Road stadium while 77 joined online for the hybrid event. 46 Partners were represented with 12 Public Contributors also attending.
The day started with introductions from Professor Mark Gabbay (Director) and Professor Ben Barr (co-director) before an insight into the value of research on a regional basis was provided by Dr Jim Gardiner, Deputy Chief Medical Officer of ARC NWC’s new host, University Hospitals of Liverpool Group.
Presentations on Knowledge Mobilisation, Updates from themes, how we will work with the VCFSE sector, the role Public Contributors will play and an insight into ARC NWC local work with HDRC and local artist Brendan Bunting all offered a varied and insightful day into the workings of the collaboration.
Guests were invited to browse a marketplace featuring information stands from all the new themes in ARC NWC to find out more about their ideas in development and to take the opportunity to contribute to their work plans.
More detailed sessions from themes followed during the afternoon line up.
A brochure celebrating the achievements of ARC NWC Phase 1 was circulated to all guests, enabling browsing of highlighted projects which could be ready for further implementation/scaling up across the region.
Keynote speaker Alice Mortlock, Head of Research Capacity and Growth in the Science, Research and Evidence directorate at the Department of Health and Social Care, spoke about the need for community engagement and the key role ARCs will be playing in delivering the Neighbourhood Health Framework.
Professor Gabbay said: “This is the start of a new scheme with big ambition. Our infrastructure provides research expertise, specialist facilities, a research delivery workforce and support services which all help to support and deliver the research we fund, and research funded by others. The funding of ARC NWC Phase 2 is a huge boost for research across the North West Coast region”.
Videos from the event are available on the ARC NWC YouTube channel and presentations on the ARCFEST section of the ARC NWC website.