Description

In this practical workshop, we heard stories about how community engagement and policy engagement can drive social change. We also learned more about our own strengths and the different paths we can take to make a difference. Dave and Catherine-Rose from the Scottish Policy and Research Exchange deliver the workshop and shared some stories from their experience. They also facilitated individual and small group working to explore examples of power within our won contexts.

Training providers

Scottish Policy research exchange

The Scottish Policy and Research Exchange works with research, knowledge mobilisation and policy communities to improve how evidence and expertise shapes policy. Their digital resources are available to help people plan who to engage with and when it’s the best time to do so.  
They also run the Brokerage, a network of researchers, knowledge mobilisers, and policy professionals who have an interest in improving how evidence and expertise shapes policy. Through the network, they share formal and informal opportunities for research-policy engagement, and create spaces for relationship-building and shared learning.

Catherine-Rose Stocks-Rankin

Catherine-Rose is a researcher and knowledge mobiliser with 15 years’ experience across community development, social work, social care, public health, primary and secondary care. She holds a PhD in Social Policy from the University of Edinburgh and specialises in participatory approaches to research design and systems leadership. She also has specialist expertise in monitoring and evaluation for learning (specifically developmental evaluation and contribution analysis).

Her leadership and methods create a bridge between different kinds of knowledge, with a focus on blending lived experience, practice wisdom, policy know-how, and research evidence. She is also the Co-Chair for the Social Action Inquiry for Scotland, which focuses on what helps and hinders community-led change.  

Catherine-Rose is also a carer, an aspiring writer and a cat-parent to a deaf cat called Reuben. 

Dave Blackbell

Dave is a knowledge mobilisation specialist. He has a PhD in climate science and 10 years professional experience in various policy, research, research management and knowledge mobilisation roles, largely focused on policy challenges around climate change and sustainability.

Dave’s leadership at SPRE centres around how to support capacities for more ethical, equitable and effective systems and practices. He is particularly interested in how to apply insights from intersectionality, participatory action research and complexity-aware impact monitoring, evaluation and learning.

Dave is also a new dad, a partner and an enthusiastic dog-parent to a rescue dog called Korra.