CollaborACTION: sandpit workshops

CovenTRY CollaborACTION Knowledge ExCHANGE is a community of communities and a network of networks. Led by the University of Warwick, this initiative unites researchers, policymakers, practitioners, creatives, university staff and local communities, connecting them and encouraging collaboration. The aim is to enable people to explore real issues and innovative solutions, share their knowledge, ask questions, work together, and take risks.

CollaborACTION states:

"We will always TRY to COLLABORATE, TAKE ACTION, and exCHANGE knowledge to CREATE IMPACT. The aim is to discuss how creative methods can influence decision-making processes and improve the health and well-being of local communities. "

Over the course of two days on 23 and 30 July, the HDRC took part in six workshops. On the first day, the focus was on the following four topics:  

LILI - LIVED IT LIVING IT - Health and Economic (In)activity

Be it living in poverty, near pollution, being lonely and isolated, having a lack of access to green spaces and healthy places and food sources, our health is impacted by many things, and our health impacts our ability to be economically active. As does economic inactivity or activity impact our health.

CollaborACTION wants to explore the complex and interdependent nature of these areas with communities experiencing this complexity and living or having recently lived it here in Coventry, and beyond.

From research with communities to gain better and deeper, more nuanced and impactful understanding, to co-creating interventions, programmes and policy with communities, policy-makers, third, community and business sectors - CollaborACTION wants to help make changes so more people can live healthier, more economically secure lives and that any economic growth locally is inclusive. Where no one is left behind, and all can envision the future, their futures, our future - together.

TEAM Excellence - Internationally Recognised Co-Created Cultural Practice in Coventry

Given that arts & culture could play a key role in the next steps of this project, CovenTRY CollaborACTION wants to ensure that the voice of the cultural sector is also captured within these conversations. The team is therefore working with the culture & creative economy team at Coventry City Council to ensure there is no duplication of activity – and to explore how to best support the delivery of the Coventry Cultural Strategy through this project.

CollaborACTION would like to achieve a collective flow of ideas and suggestions to determine:

1. What would success look like?
2. What kind of activities could this include?
3. Who would the key stakeholders be and how to best engage them?
4. What do we already have and what would we need to make this a reality?

TEAM Citizen - Science, Participation and Policy

During this workshop, the following questions were discussed:

1. How can we work together to design citizen science tools that are accessible, meaningful to communities, and generate data that researchers and policymakers can use?
2. How do we co-create a greener, healthier and more biodiverse city for all?
3. From Retrofit Rocks, to eDNA, Co-Creation and retrofit in Foleshill, Ball Hill and Stoke and many more projects we've all been collaborACTING - how can we pull these threads together and generate further connectivity?
4. How can we keep on working together, with our communities?
5. How can we ALL get more involved with the future of Coventry?

TEAM HERITAGE FUTURES - Immersive Design for Place

Exploring how immersive technologies—VR, 3D modelling, digital storytelling—can help communities engage with heritage and shape future development.

Retrofit Rocks has been working with communities in Ball Hill to develop an AR experience to help people understand the journey and benefits of retrofitting their homes.

The remaining two workshops on the second day focused on the following topics:

Neurodiversity – belonging, safety, identity, creativity, storytelling, and empathy

Working with Drop the Mask and researchers, policy makers and others CollaborACTION wants to develop our exhibition and research piece. Aiming to attract further funding and create a larger knowledge exchange and celebration, perhaps festival style, event in the future.

Over the coming months CollaborACTION aims to:

1. Evolve the 'Drop the Mask' vision and brand.
2. Sense-check research questions and methods, participant information leaflets etc. and evaluation methods - as a group.
3. Complete the Ethical Approval Process.
4. Develop a plan to take us forward, with funding ideas.
5. Continue to engage and exhibit where we have the team resource available to do so - as we are currently unfunded now our Warwick Institute of Engagement Seed Fund has completed.
6. Participate in the Neurodiversity in Higher Education Conference, on 15 September 2025 - hosted by Warwick

Retrofitting uptake – next steps

We discussed continued collaborative work around increasing the uptake of retrofitting measures amongst lower income homes, who qualify for grants, across Coventry and Warwickshire. This was a much more specific and focussed workshop due to the nature of the project, having already received funding and building a body of work for a couple a years.

If you would like to learn more about the project, please visit CollaborACTION's website.