OBJECTIVES

1. IDRICS reflects Buckinghamshire New University’s recognition of the importance of inclusivity, celebration of diversity and community engagement across all aspects of our work. Offering expertise in research, consultancy, evaluations, the delivery of bespoke teaching and learning opportunities and partnership development in the following areas…….

3. Our interdisciplinary research institute operates from both our High Wycombe and West London (Uxbridge) campuses. 

4. Since 2010 we have taken responsibility for all social sciences, community partnership and engagement projects undertaken within the University.

5. OBJECTIVES To provide a West London and Thames Valley wide applied academic resource which undertakes and provides research, consultation, service evaluation, training and reviews of existing evidence to inform policy development and practice at national, regional and local levels. To ensure that high-quality research and evaluation is undertaken which contributes fully to the life of local communities, agencies and service providers by providing robust evidence which supports the development of effective and efficient policies and practices in the areas of diversity, inclusivity and community studies.

6. To work with stakeholders to identify key gaps in research knowledge and practice and encourage local community members, academic, policy and research professionals to contribute more fully to addressing these. To develop inclusive knowledge about (and in partnership with)diverse communities in the public, private and voluntary sectors so that effective use is made of the existing evidence base and best practice in the UK. To promote and support an international reputation in applied research.

7. Services Provided Research:(tailored to the needs of specific clients) provided across a full range of equalities domains in the following subject areas: health, social care, arts, social science, sport and leisure, policing and management. Consultancy:provided across the equalities domains, but with specific expertise in sensory impairment (deafness); Gypsies’ and Travellers’ social inclusion; Race Equality, Educational Development; Community Cohesion and the Arts; Health Needs consultations/assessments with excluded populations. Teaching and Learning:including the provision of public lectures and specific training programmes or one-off sessions on subjects taught within the institution (e.g. policing and crowd control; community arts; prison education; collaborative research methods; probation service and the delivery of appropriate support to BME and vulnerable clients).

8. Some of our partners include • Aylesbury Vale District Council • Buckinghamshire Community Foundation • Buckinghamshire County Council • Central London Community Healthcare • Childhood Bereavement Charity (training/PhD support) • Comenius Regio Partnerships (through the European Commission) • Independent Academic Research Studies • London Borough of Hillingdon • The Traveller Movement • Wycombe District Council • Yeading Junior School

9. Some Recent Highlights So Far Professor Margaret Greenfields was invited to attend/speak at APPGs on Roma affairs, Dual Diagnosis and Irish in Britain in 2012-13 and the Embassy Reception for Irish in Britain and Mary Tilki’s Presidential Distinguished Service Award and The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation Award for the bestowal of the Centennial Medal on the Right Honourable Gordon Brown MP in 2013. Professor Margaret Greenfields was invited to give a key note address at The College of Law at the University of South Africa (2013), visiting the Institute for Dispute Resolution in Africa. Margaret’s address was on community based participatory research; exploring the potential for justice related studies. Margaret chaired Challenges in Health Assistance for Roma People Tackling Health Inequalities through Human Resource Capacity Building in Europe - Introduction of the CHANCE Curriculum – in Pecs, Hungary (2013). Margaret also gave a keynote at the Gender Work Family and Change International Conference in Iasi, Romania (2013). This was a multidisciplinary scientific event, gathering professionals, specialists, academics and practitioner's to present: Advancing models, significant studies good practices in the field of applied social sciences such as Gender Studies, Social Work, Sociology, Psychology, Psychotherapy, Educational Sciences and Communication Sciences. Dr Elaine Arnull organised a international thematic session on young people, crime and feminism at the American Society of Criminology Conference 2013 including contributions from the USA, Canada and the UK.  Elaine Chaired the session and presented a paper entitled: "Girls and young women: Offending through a feminist lens?". Elaine was KeySpeaker for the Coram Life Education Conference (September 2013). Coram Life Education and its Delivery Partners reach 800,000 children and teach them to make responsible life choices through education on diet, exercise and how to manage the risks they may encounter.

10. Recent Projects (2013) • Between 2012-2013 IDRICS undertook commissions on behalf of NHS Trusts for the provision of Health Needs Assessments in North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES) in relation to Gypsy Traveller Roma and Boater communities. • Comenius Regio Partnerships (Poland, Sweden, Turkey, Croatia) Four EC funded partnership projects which aimed to increase children’s intercultural knowledge, speaking and listening skills. • ESRC funded Seminar Series on Gypsy and Traveller Policy Issues in partnership with De Montford University, Cornell University, Sheffield University and the University of Bristol. • National Gypsy and Traveller Health Inclusion Projects – involvement in three programmes on behalf of the Department of Health (including specialist workforce training) • Comic Relief Funded Research – Refugee and Asylum Seeking Women (RASW) Project with the Independent Academic Research Studies (IARS). • Project development (with African Health Policy Network): on health practices and faith/culture. • Mentored local film producer to create ‘Grey Side of the Sky’ a documentary film on Asian British Women in Buckinghamshire exploring migration pathways and the challenges faced by first generation Asian women migrants. The film has won critical acclaim and will be reshown locally during International Women’s Week 2014.

11. Dr. Margaret Greenfields Professor of Social Policy & Community Engagement Director of IDRICS margaret.greenfields@bucks.ac.uk Dr. Elaine Arnull Reader in Social Policy & Social Work Deputy Director IDRICS elaine.arnull@bucks.ac.uk Jackie McPeak Operations Manager IDRICS jackie.mcpeak@bucks.ac.uk Follow us @_idrics www.bucks.ac.uk/idrics