The Southampton Institute for Arts and Humanities (SIAH) and Faculty of Arts and Humanities are delighted to announce the award of grants for two research projects which form a key part of the University’s civic engagement activity.
The ‘Pathways to Health Through Cultures of Neighbourhoods’ project, led by Joanna Sofaer, Professor of Archaeology and Southampton Institute for Arts and Humanities (SIAH) Co-Director, has been awarded a UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) grant as part of the Mobilising Community Assets to Tackle Health Inequalities programme.
Pathways to Health brings together academics, civic leaders, health professionals, non-governmental organisations, and cultural organisations across Southampton to learn from young people (age 11-16) from deprived communities in the City.
Culture-based health and wellbeing opportunities for young people vary across Southampton, and understanding of these opportunities differs between young people and adults. The project will work to understand what culture means to young people and how they use place-based cultural assets in order to reimagine cultural provision within an integrated care system, and to identify ways that young people can use arts and culture for self-care to reduce future health challenges.
The second study, ‘Heritage and Wellbeing for NHS Staff’ also led by Professor Joanna Sofaer, has been awarded a grant from Historic England to evaluate the short and medium-term wellbeing benefits of engaging with heritage for NHS staff. The study aims to support the wellbeing of NHS employees and to provide feasibility data for a future clinical trial.
The projects are a key part of the University’s and the Faculty of Arts and Humanities civic engagement activity.
Congratulations to Joanna and the project teams!
