Event reportFor impact

Welcome - Steven Marwick, Evaluation Support ScotlandSteven welcomed just under 70 participants from third sector, public sector and academia to the thirdannual Scottish Third Sector Research Forum (TSRF) event, Let's collaborate for impact, which took placeon 13 September 2016 in Victoria Quay, Scottish Government, Edinburgh.

Cassy spoke about Collaborating with academics, the latestguide produced by the Knowledge Translation Network for thirdsector organisations wanting to collaborate with academics togenerate and/or use evidence.

Time and resources are still barriers: Even if you have got funding, how far will thatfunding go? Third sector have very limited budgets; could funders help?A collaboration based on positive and passionate attitude also need clear roles andexpectations from the start to succeed

What works in setting up collaborations - Highlights from discussion

Evidence for Success: Collaborating with academics guide - Dr Cassy Rutherford, The Robertson Trust

Brokering third sector / academia collaborationsShelley Breckenridge, InterfaceShelley spoke about why and how Interface brokers relationships between sectors, including third sector andacademia. Shelley said that Interface administers Scottish Funding Council money and are often called byScottish Government to provide evidence of what's working or what isn't. She explained that Interface workswith all universities across Scotland and operates at regional level so wherever you are in Scotland there issomeone to help with collaborating with academia. She said that Interface steps back after third sector andacademics are in contact and have pinned down the collaboration; however, we are at hand as a neutralpartner to answer questions or when problems arise.

John McAteer, Scottish Collaboration for Public Health Policy and Research (SCPHRP)John introduced SCPHRP's thematic working group model of collaboration, which bring together experts acrossdifferent sectors, including academia and third sector, to develop research agendas, develop and evaluateinterventions and deliver events and other knowledge exchange activities.

"A collaboration is not a sprint but a marathon." Cassy

"Demonstrating impact is becoming really importnat in academia." Shelley

It's important to look at what is already out there before starting a new research projectWorking with people from the community level is important in enthusing partners in the researchFeedback from the research process is essential - need to know who is responsible for thisBe open and honest about what you plan to do with the research from the collaborationHow do you sustain a relationship when the funding runs out? - Keep in touchRelationships depend on personalities of individuals rather than organisationsNot all collaborations are equalSometimes academics want to share evidence before the third sector partner is readyWhat makes good research for academia might not be the same as good/useful research for third sectorIt's useful to bring people in early but not too early!It's important to engage with PhD students so they learn about different ways to collaborate.

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Stairway to impact: Steps that others can take to help our collaborations - Highlights from discussion

Closing words - Jacqueline Rae, Scottish Government

Making collaboration work: good practice case studies - Presentations

Graeme Callander, Drink Wise, Age Well, and Prof Lawrie Elliott, Glasgow Caledonian UniversitySpeaking about their experience of collaborating Graeme and Lawrie said:

"Academia and policy-making are in different worlds. We need to have more understanding about these worlds ifwe want to collaborate and work together" Peter

"Collaborations with third sector give univiersities achance to work for the greater good. Working withacademics gives third sector organisations time forself-reflection." Jenny

"I feel excited to take forward the learning from today's conversations. Don't give up - like Cassy said, it's amarathon, not a sprint." Jacqueline

Peter spoke about his collaboration with Connected Communicites that lead to the publication of "Doingand evaluating community research" report. Peter amused participants with his view on the colliding worldsof academics and third sector.

After a networking lunch and the breakout sessions (see Annex) Jacqueline brought the event to a close byproviding an overview of her role as Social Researcher in SG and sharing some of her reflections from the day:

Dr Peter Matthews, University of Stirling

Jenny Brotchie, Carnegie UK TrustJenny presented highlights CUKT's collaboration withProf Mark Schucksmith OBE (University of Newcastle),which lead to the publication of "InterAction: How canacademics and the third sector work together toinfluence policy and practice?" report. Jenny spokeabout how new knowledge can be created from joininguniversities' explicit knowledge and the third sector'stacit knowledge and shared key recommendationsfrom the report to help take collaborations forward.

"Everything in this world is complicated but you need to injectsome humanity - what you have in you and what they [yourpartners] have in them." Lawrie

"Our relationship with Lawrie and other academics is critical forsucces; we're on year 2 of the programme so we don't know ifit works yet. It's important to give them information so theycan help us design the programme moving forward." Graeme

Funders of Knowledge Exchange Partnerships should fund third sector ifthey want them to get involved in collaborationsFunders of academic research should fund evaluation of the impact ofprojects - academics do not get funding for thisAcademics and third sector organisations are still facing capacity issuesthat get in the way of setting up and sustaining effective collaborations -could funders and research funding councils help?

We asked participants to give us theirdefinition of 'impact', which we

compiled into this 'impact butterfly'!

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What participantsthought of the event

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HelpfulInterestingRelevant

InsightfulInformativeInteresting

Wellstructured

Contacts

Ideas

Usefulresources

Learning from presentations:brokers, different perspectives

Other's willingness tocollaborate

Intelligence about solutions to addresscommon barriers to collaboration

Goodnetworking

opportunities

Balanced sectors'representation

What worked well?

"The focus on impact could not have been better chosen. It'sreally important at the moment (why is that?), main area where

it shows collaboration can really add value."

"Names of reports to read including the guide on collaborativeworkshop with academics. Knowledge that a brokering organisation

like Interface exist."

"Seeing how many different organisations are willing to collaborate."

"Speak more directly to the Universities we are involved with."

"Think more about why we want research to ensure we are doingit for the right reasons."

"Add the "inclusive growth" theme to our strategic review process."

"Promote opportunities for collaboration amongst colleagues in thethird sector."

"Think about the research needs of my organisation; Who weshould collaborate with and begin to design the project."

What are you taking away?

"Great day, good that it built on last year. Good info sharing andconversations."

"It was an interesting event and I was pleasantly surprised to seeso many academics in attendance. This helped me to learn more

about how to approach academics with a view to collaborating."

"The event was very helpful and insightful: What was particularlyuseful was critically rethinking ways of 'meaning' of defining impactand highlighting projects that resulted from the discussion and the

breakout session."

What will you do next?

"I came with an open mind, so I learned a lotand made a couple of contacts."

"Contacts, knowledge, new understanding, hope."

Collaboration

Exploreideas Follow up

contacts

Read bestpractice

Promote

Sharelearning

Plan

ApplyAssess

Review

Consider roles

What participantsthought of the event

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More balanced focus on academiaand third sector's perspectivesBreakout sessions content shouldmatch closely their description in theevent programmeBreakout sessions should have agood pace, be interactive andparticipative.

Explore how academics can help build the capacity of the third sector to carry out research

Run similar networking events:

Geographically focused to bring together academics and third sector organisations fromthe areaReach practitioners and service providers tooOn specific topics (e.g. co-funding, co-production, community empowerment, participatorybudgetting)

What could have been better?

Any ideas for the future?

Although most of participants' feedback indicated that theevent was successful, four participants were a bitdisappointed with some aspects of it. The Forum will takethis feedback into account when organising its next event.

Continue to facilitate conversations between third sector and academia

Liaise with Scottish Government to ensure third sector has a role in setting and achievingstrategy through research and evidence

Capture some of the examples from the discussions and share through the Forum's website,newsletter or in future research papers

Open their work and knowledge to more third sector organisations and through keypartners promote more research in the third sector

Provide more information, advice and training relating to funding and collaborationopportunities

Produce accessible advice about starting collaborations (for the complete novice)

Assist in setting up a "researcher availability" - It would be useful to know a bit more aboutwhat other do/where their interests are

Continue to foster/encourage cross-sector collaborations

Provide more accessible and clear online information. Participants told us theyhope the Forum runs a'let's collaborate' eventin 2017

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Annex:Breakout sessions

Breakout session 1: Supporting social innovation and better collaboration - Mark Meiklejohn and MichelleKerr, Scottish Government, and Anne MacDonald, Highlands and Islands Enterprise

The Scottish Government and Highlands and Islands Enterprise have been working together to combatpoverty and promote social inclusion in Scotland. Their interests lie in building capability and resources in thesocial economy, and supporting social innovation and better collaboration with academia and researchinstitutions.

Anne, Michelle and Mark consulted with participants on the SG's plans to ensure the European SocialFund encourages interest across the social economy and academia.

Breakout session 2: Collaboration, what's in it for me? - Nicola Duncan, Scottish Universities InsightInstitute

The Knowledge Translation Network sets out in its Evidence for Success: Collaborating with academics guide thebenefits for third sector and academia to work collaboratively. Benefits for third sector organisations includeincreasing skills/capacity around data; access expert advice on methodology and evidence, and access a widerevidence base. For academics benefits include testing practical applications of research;, make researchrelevant to the third sector and the needs of the people they work with, and meet some of the knowledgeexchange requirements set out in the Research Excellence Framework (REF).

At this breakout session participants:• Increased their understanding of the context in which third sector organisations and academics operate (e.g.REF requirements).• Heard about successful examples of collaboration.• Explored issues around funding of research in the third sector.

Breakout session 3: Share it to shape it: Consultation on TSRF plans - Patty Lozano-Casal, EvaluationSupport Scotland; Cassy Rutherford, The Robertson Trust, and Louise Meikleham, Scottish CharityRegulator

This session provided an opportunity for TSRF members to share their plans to produce research on hot topicslike ‘co-production’ and ‘inclusive growth’. It offered participants a chance to share research and feed in ideastoo.

Written by:Patty Lozano-CasalEvidence into Action ManagerEvaluation Support ScotlandScottish Charity: SC036529, Registered company: SC284843

Facilitated by: Supported by:

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