Work, Health and Well-being Workshop 10th November 2014
Notes from discussion groups
Ideas how network should operate

Getting more funding is priority
o Could we get small donations from private sector organisations or government? Work out
costing before asking.
o Involve funders and stake holders for impact – not just practitioners and researchers. Hear
from funders what they are looking for. Could the network influence funders – to fund
collaboratively?
o Identify businesses that might be willing to pilot.

How does research translate into practice?
o Can we make papers relevant to practitioner? Link academics with research experience with
interventions at local level that require evaluation.
o Research could convert to a ‘local story’

Focus on policy implications
o Connections should be problem focused – with policy ideas. Solution based rather than
merely idea sharing. More practical based ideas.
o Make network relevant/useful to politicians
o Prioritisation of research in light of policy – what matters now? Ageing, stress, obesity? Ask
LAs what questions they want answering.
o Use network as a tool for lobbying – evidence based response to policy

Connections with other networks/organisations
o Work out the connection with What Works Centres – there is work, learning (meaning adult
learning) and wellbeing centre run by ESRC and PHE
o Is this network connected to Scotland, Wales, Ireland?
o Learn from existing successful networks
o Link to GMPHN
o Link to NHSE
o Primary Care involvement
o LinkedIn groups

Face to face networking is best though most expensive
o Could we organise streams within larger conferences? Work, health and well-being stream
in sociology or other conferences.
o Organise local groups within the network for those who could more easily meet face to face.
o Virtual meetings
o Email lists and digests

Avoid academic dominance
o Involve employers, HR and TUs.
o Networks among organizations – not just academics – should be encouraged

Send around FUSE report to be updated – appendix
Ideas for website

Make website digestible – avoid information overload

Catalogue of hyperlinks to people, networks and research
o Summary of research
o Information about publications before they come out – latest research
o Link to Data services

Data
o LA datasets
o Information about trends – health outcomes, i.e. disease incidents by industry

Updated version of FUSE report

Funding information
o Announcement of funding calls
o Information about what funders are looking for

Events
o Publicise upcoming events
o Film seminars and put on Youtube

Interactive element
o Discussion forum
o Wiki system where people can request information and then answers given are available to
everyone
o Blog for people to upload to, e.g. a place for practitioners to write their experiences that
aren’t published in peer-reviewed journals but that others could learn from (blog?) ‘Grey
literature’.
o ‘Would like to meet’ section for people to link with experts who could advise on work. Allow
non-academics to contact academics with questions.
o Database that people can upload to – Social Policy digest?
Ideas for next workshop

Have a specific question for the next workshop that delegates should aim to answer while there –
more action based meeting

Invite employers, HR and TUs