Join Rural Durham Community Research Networks’ upcoming event ‘How can rural communities build purposeful & sustainable relationships with decision makers’ taking place on Wednesday 16th September from 9.45am to 12.30pm at St Anne’s Centre, 17 West End, Wolsingham, Bishop Auckland DL13 3AT.

VCSE organisations, community groups, community researchers, policymakers, academics, and public sector leaders are invited to join a collaborative event exploring how rural voices, lived experience, and community-led research can help shape policy, strengthen relationships, and influence decisions affecting rural communities.

The event will provide an opportunity to:

• Demystify policymaking and explore how communities can engage with decision-making processes.
• Explore the value of community-led research and how community-led evidence can shape policy and practice, ensuring rural communities are represented in decision-making. 
• Hear about community research happening in rural Durham, what they’ve found and the impact of their work.
• Learn about emerging community research projects, creating opportunities with others to connect who share similar priorities.
• Explore trust, power and influence through discussions involving a community, academic and public sector perspective.

Whether you are working with a community, conducting research, or shaping policy and services, this event offers an opportunity to learn from each other, learn about current and new community research and contribute to a conversation about how rural communities and decision-makers can work together more effectively now and in the future.

Places are limited, so we encourage you to register early.

More details and the agenda will be shared soon.

For any enquiries, please email jemma.austin@durhamcommunityaction.org.uk

We want you to have a positive experience of this event. Please tell us about any communication, accessibility or other needs that we should be aware of.