Posted by Alex O'Connor-Sherlock, MSc Dietetic student, Teesside University. Introduction by Steph Sloan, Senior Lecturer in Dietetics and Course Leader MSc Dietetics at Teesside University. Practice-based learning (PBL) is a key part of dietetic training, with students required to complete 1,000 hours of hands-on experience in a practice setting. Traditionally, this has mostly taken place in NHS settings, with students working one-on-one with supervisors. However, as healthcare demands grow, diversifying placement opportunities is becoming increasingly important - not just to ..read more

Posted by Scarlet Hall, Research Assistant, Durham University and Fuse We have been collaborating with LGBTQIA+ young people in the North East and South Yorkshire, through Fuse led research funded by the NIHR School for Public Health Research (SPHR) exploring how physical activity spaces could be more joyful and safe. This blog describes how the ‘Moving Spaces’ zine was made and makes suggestions for those wishing to co-produce creative research outputs. This blog draws from reflective conversations between Caroline Dodd-Reynolds (Fuse), Mary Crowder (University of Sheffield) and Shevek Fodor ..read more

Posted by Ian Treasure, Programme Manager, Changing Futures Lancashire and Cassey Muir, Research Associate, Newcastle University “When you point a finger, three point back,” a member of our Lived Experience panel said while discussing stigma. Stigma is often invisible, yet it shapes how people perceive themselves and are perceived by others. This saying reminds us that before we judge others, we should first reflect on our own behaviours, actions, and beliefs.   The Changing Futures Lancashire Programme and taking a trauma-informed approach The Changing Futures Lancashire (CFL) progra ..read more

Posted by Natalie Forster, Philip Hodgson, and Alex Kirton from Northumbria University “It’s just a house”. Words famously uttered by Mr Fredricksen in the much-loved film, ‘Up’. But does this really do justice to the complicated relationships we have with our homes? There’s a steady stream of evidence now showing that housing characteristics (including issues like overcrowding, poor insulation, damp and mould) can impact on physical and mental health. And far from being just a house, we know that where you live can make a big difference to how socially connected you are, the services y ..read more

Posted by Zeibeda Sattar, Assistant Professor in Health Policy, Northumbria University L-R: Greta Defeyter, Humaira Khan and Zeb Sattar  I recently had the opportunity to chair the Health Inequalities Symposium hosted by the Centre for Health and Social Equity (CHASE) at Northumbria University, in collaboration with Fuse. It was an incredible event that brought together over 100 people, including researchers, policymakers, healthcare providers, and community members, all focused on tackling the pressing health challenges facing South Asian and Muslim (SAM) communiti ..read more

Posted by Amelia Lake, Claire O'Malley and Helen Moore, Fuse researchers from Teesside University This week I joined other health professionals across the country in signing an open letter from the Obesity Health Alliance (OHA) to the Prime Minister, giving our support for new policy reforms, allowing the planning system to better support the creation of healthy, active local communities and reduce health inequalities. The letter was issued alongside the OHA's Local Government Position Statement: “Empowering Communities to Create Healthier Local Food Environments”, which contains a list of re ..read more

Posted by Zoë Bell, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, King’s College London In the three years since we started this project a lot has changed, and nothing has changed at the same time. Just as the pandemic was leaving a shadow behind us, we entered a new chapter of social and economic challenge; notably, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and Brexit fuelling a cost-of-living crisis with huge impacts on our food system and food prices. These events, in their own unique ways, have left households more vulnerable to experiencing poverty, and the topic of this blog, food insecurity. During this time ..read more

Posted by Steven Thirkle, Research Associate, Newcastle University People experiencing homelessness often have multiple and complex health and social care needs that require support from many services. However, accessing and coordinating this support can be difficult when services are disconnected geographically or relationally. Often the person who is experiencing these challenges is the one who has to reach out for help, and this can be extremely hard for someone also managing day-to-day homelessness. During our workshop, More Than Minutes visually captured our discussions ..read more

Matty Starforth, Public Health Practitioner-Harm Reduction and Social Inclusion Portfolio, Newcastle City Council “Stigma, stated simply, is a set of negative and often unfair beliefs. Stigma can be experienced on a societal, structural and personal level. It is employed largely unconsciously but at times also consciously”.  Anti Stigma Network Stigma is often a word that is associated with harm but it is important to recognise that stigma can have a huge impact on individuals and groups in society. From my own professional experiences, I am aware, like many of my colleagues and partner ..read more

Posted by Ella Anderson, Fuse Public Involvement and Engagement Manager, Newcastle University   “volunteering feels like the morally right thing to do – we can’t just ‘take’ from groups and not offer something in return”   MumSpace volunteers together Supported by the Newcastle University’s staff volunteering scheme and Fuse colleagues, I had the opportunity to volunteer with MumSpace. As Fuse’s Public Engagement and Involvement Manager, this meant that I could spend some time away from my desk learning more about the voluntary sector within a grass roots organisation, b ..read more