Research outputs

The Over-Researched Communities project explores how universities can build trust and do research in more careful, respectful, and useful ways.

Doing community research: A cup of tea at a time

A practical, illustrated guide for researchers, offering advice and reflective questions for each stage of community research, from building relationships to ethics, power, and ending projects well. By Niamh Kavanagh and Tina Cribbin

Illustration of people viewing a “Queering the Map” display in a map collection.

Awards

Making a Difference Awards - Winners, Outstanding Public Engagement Initiative

MUARG Member Niamh Kavanagh, Tina Cribbin, and Anthea Cribbin won the Outstanding Public Engagement Initiative award at the University of Manchester’s Making a Difference Awards 2026 for the project “Hulme Nannas: (in)visibility, community and urban change”.

The project worked with older residents in Hopton Court, a high-rise social housing block in Hulme, to co-produce the UK’s first Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC).

Through long-term participatory work, residents identified priorities, shaped local services, reduced isolation, and helped create a resident-run community space, social activities, creative workshops, and public exhibitions.

Our team

People

  • Project lead: Niamh Kavanagh
  • Community collaborator: Tina Cribbin
  • Funders: SEED Social Responsibility Fund 2026; Research Strategy Funding, University of Manchester 

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