Creativity in research – Trust holds annual research and development conference

The third annual research discovery and innovation conference was held on Tuesday 3 June at the Village Hotel in Leeds, with the theme ‘creativity in research: expanding frontiers of research. The conference was a celebration of ongoing research activity and innovation work within the Trust and our partners, with an exciting line-up of panel sessions, keynote talks and workshops.

The focus was on embracing creative approaches in research methodology, practice, and engagement. It was an opportunity to share, network and help shape the key themes and ideas about future research within the Trust and its wider partnerships.

Key themes discussed within the conference included:

• Making research everyone’s business and helping build a co-ordinated research culture within the Trust
• Introducing creative approaches within research practice, engagement and innovative creative projects which redefine boundaries of research enquiry
• Becoming a research leader by building partnerships, developing new engagement activity and harnessing the power of communities
• Focusing on ‘the art of the people’ exploring new innovative opportunities through our clinical and academic partners

The morning session featured a host of engaging presentations, poems, and panels featuring:

• Embedding a coordinated research culture, chaired by Dr Mohinder Kapoor
  • The story so far by the R&D team, Research Delivery case example by Tracy Smith/Mark Harper and NIHR Mental Health Dev. Award case example by Prof. Micheal Doyle
• The power of creativity by Dr. Luise Marino and case examples by Prof. Nick Barley, Director of the National Poetry Centre
• Creativity in action chaired by Dr Wajid Khan and The Journey by local poet, Mohammed Saloo
• Building creative partnerships – creativity at work chaired by Dr Wajid Khan and Creative Health Hub and SWYPFT panel with Dr Nic Stenberg, Vicki Whyte and Arshad Mahmood

The afternoon session offered delegates the opportunity to attend workshops tailored around creativity and research, which included:

• Building research capacity: The A-Z of research practice
• Meaningful creativity: Trust creative approaches to health and wellbeing
• Creativity in practice: ReaderBank workshop

The sessions created a platform to share creative projects, shape key themes and fuel creative thinking and ideas about future research within the Trust and wider partnerships, to further benefit the communities we serve.

The conference also provided the ideal chance to network by visiting our engaging market place. With a host of teams, services and partners stalls featuring an array of information and poster displays to promote the exciting work and opportunities available.

Thank you to all our delegates, partners, speakers, and facilitators for all your contributions in delivering a fantastic research conference.