Category / HEIF

Hidden hunger amongst older adults: A short film co-produced with local communities

HEIF

Credit to Dr Kate Jupp, PIER officer, Stevie Corbin-Clarke and Misha Naran (research assistants) for their amazing work on the Hidden Hunger project with BCP Access to Food Partnership. Links to the research report and associated film can be found in BCP Access to Food Partnership’s press release below.

 

Isolation and loneliness are big issues facing older adults in our communities. This project hears from people in the BCP area and their struggles and difficulties around food, connection and the stigma attached to asking for support. BCP’s Access to Food Partnership wanted to better understand local observations that ‘older adults are less likely to use foodbanks and have a higher level of attendance at lunch club settings’.

In collaboration with Christchurch Community Partnership and Bournemouth University’s PIER (Public Involvement in Education and Research)  team, the project worked closely with Highcliffe Lunch Club to better understand the barriers as well as the solutions that will enable better access to relevant support for older people experiencing food insecurity.

The BU PIER Community Researcher Model enables participants with lived experience of the topic being explored to feel comfortable in sharing their insight as well as building confidence in becoming peer mentors and community researchers.

The conversations by community researchers identified the following themes:

  1. Basic Needs Not Being Met
  2. Broadening from Poverty
  3. Benefits of Lunch Clubs
  4. Asking For Help
  5. Someone to Trust

“A significant learning for us from his project was that access to food for some older people was not only about poverty. It was often about mobility, frailty and tied up with not wanting to ask for help or be seen as a burden. Having someone they could just ask, was the key to making a difference”. BU Research team

The research has prompted partners to take action and develop their practice using the lessons learnt, including:

  • Christchurch Community Partnership (CCP) has established a new monthly Sunday Roast project They have also started a completely new weekly CCP Lunch Club which includes more time either side of a meal for people to socialise (mobility issues meant eating and talking is harder for some attendees) as well as supporting the Greystones lunch club. “We were surprised at how much food insecurity there is for many of our older residents and the Hidden Hunger research has both informed and shaped our provision going forward”. Rev. Sandra Prudom CEO of CCP.
  • Partners will use the learnt ‘community researcher model’ to reach other seldom heard voices within our community.
  • Bournemouth University will help build capacity for community groups, staff and volunteers to have the skills and confidence to lead and conduct their own research

 

The Access to Food Partnership is a group of over 70 community food organisations and many others from the public and voluntary sector. They will continue to connect and deliver better outcomes for those experiencing food insecurity. Alistair Doxat-Purser (Chair of Access to Food and CEO of Faithworks) said:

“The findings from this research project are very timely as demand at foodbanks from those over 65 starts to grow.  Relational support as well as practical help is becoming more and more what the Access to Food Partnership stands for – and magnificently demonstrates day in, day out.” 

The partners have recently produced a film to go alongside the report to share the findings of the project, which can be viewed in the ‘Research section’ here:

Resources for Access to Food Partnership members | BCP and Hidden Hunger Film

Thanks

Michael

 

Michael French

Community Food Co-ordinator

Public Health and Communities Directorate

 

AI learning to read emotions from motion….

HEIF

This is Dr Roya Haratian participating in data collection to help develop AI which can read emotions from motion!

This is our Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF) project HORSENSE VR. We are developing a game which enables participants to play with horses in a virtual environment to develop calmness and reduce anxiety.

We are working with external partners – our team is Dr Roya Haratian, Prof Fred Charles, Prof Ann Hemingway, Dr Xun He, Harriet Laurie MBE (The HorseCourse) Liucheng Guo (Tg0), Paul Brown.

AWE: Augmented Wildlife Experiences – Gaining traction

HEIF

We’re excited to share updates about our groundbreaking Augmented Wildlife Experiences (AWE) project created by a team of academics from the Department of Life and Environmental Science. The project uses digital technology to create immersive experiences along walking trails, helping people connect with nature in new and meaningful ways while supporting their well-being. Wildlife sounds, camera trap footage, and educational information are accessible on our custom-built website, www.awetrails.co.uk.

BU HEIF funding allowed us to complete our proof-of-concept trail at Holton Lee, owned by Shaftesbury Millie College – by Livability. Over the past months, we have actively shared our work and built connections with diverse audiences. Various organisations have asked us to develop an AWE trail on their lands to enhance their public engagement activities.

Sharing Our Vision

On the 11th of November, Amanda Korstjens and Anastasia Vayona presented AWE for BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, titled: “Augmented Wildlife Experiences (AWE) trails to support nature connection”. The talk reflected on the challenges faced during the setup of the first trail at Holton Lee, located on private land with restricted access owned by Shaftesbury Millie College – by Livability, compared to the unique opportunities and issues anticipated with new trails being established on public land. We also discussed how AWE can be a tool to allow less mobile people to immerse themselves in local nature online.

Join us for more public events:

January 14th 2025 Webinar for Bournemouth Natural Sciences Society: “Using IT to make wildlife trails more interesting and accessible – Augmented Wildlife Experiences ( AWE) trails to support nature connection”.

In February, 14-23rd 2025, as part of “A Heathland Celebration” exhibition at the Gallery Upstairs in Upton Country Park (led by Julia Jennings), we will hold a panel discussion.

June 3rd, 2025, we will showcase AWE at Café Scientifique with Bournemouth University’s Public Engagement team. In a relaxed setting, we’ll explore how AWE merges conservation with technology.

Building Momentum

  • Anastasia Vayona submitted a British Academy small grants proposal, seeking to test the effectiveness of AWE enhancements in promoting nature connectedness.
  • AWE now proudly includes six talented students from diverse disciplines, whose fresh perspectives and skills are driving the project forward. This SERT (Student Environmental Research Team) started planning and shaping our second trail in November 2024 (funded by departmental QR funding). The Talbot Woods trail is a collaboration with Martha Searle from Talbot Village Trust. Get in touch if you would like to contribute.

AWE is a collaborative multi-disciplinary project led by BU academics working with local organisations Dorset Electrical Solutions, Shaftesbury Millie College, and Talbot Village Trust.

With these activities and accomplishments, AWE is paving the way for a future where technology and conservation work hand in hand.

Stay tuned for more updates and join us at www.awetrails.co.uk

Introducing AWE project: nature trails augmented with digital technology

HEIF

We are thrilled to introduce the Augmented Wildlife Experiences (AWE) project. Our mission is to transform traditional nature trails into fun, educational adventures that capture visitors of all ages.

HEIF funding and QR funding have allowed us to set up and test our first proof of concept trail at Holton Lee.

 

What is AWE?

AWE integrates QR codes along a wildlife trail that unlock multimedia content bringing the story of local flora and fauna to life. Imagine walking through a forest, scanning a QR code, and instantly accessing videos, audio recordings, and detailed information about the unseen wildlife around you.

This is the magic of AWE.

Our Partnership with Livability Millie College

We are proud to collaborate with Livability Millie College in piloting the AWE project. Their beautiful campus and commitment to innovative education make them an ideal partner for testing and refining our concept.

Together, we have created a 2.4km nature trail complete with nine interactive hubs, each offering unique insights into the local wildlife. This first trail is not publicly accessible but future trails will be.

Stay connected

Visit our website at www.awetrails.co.uk to learn more about upcoming events, educational resources, and how you can support the AWE project, join us on social media @awetrails to share your AWE experiences, connect with fellow nature lovers, and stay updated on the latest developments. We are keen to collaborate to enhance our trails and build new trails elsewhere. You can get in touch with us via info@awetrails.co.uk.

Adventure Aweits!

Looking forward

In collaboration with National England and Talbot Woods we plan to set up further trails in publicly accessible areas. Our collaboration with Dorset Electrical Solutions will also be further developed to create more bespoke live-viewing systems. We are currently looking and applying for funding for these future plans.