News - University Announces Community Research Award Winners
Five voluntary and community organisations from Devon and Cornwall have been chosen to work with the University of Plymouth as part of its annual Community Research Awards.
The awards involve academics from the University using their specialist knowledge and expertise to help organisations tackle specific problems or issues.
Nearly 60 charities and community groups entered the 2010 programme, and on Monday evening the winning five were revealed. Macmillan Cancer Support, Friends of Par Beach, Choices Consultancy Services, DownSouth Down's Syndrome Support Group, and Refugees First will each receive a share of the financial support in a total package worth up to £50,000.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Wendy Purcell welcomed guests, academics and community groups to the awards, held in the Roland Levinsky Building. She said: "Since their launch in 2008, the Community Research Awards have been linking our world-class researchers with the local community.
"We can help provide the answers to the fascinating questions raised by the community groups, and by doing so, we can bring real world benefits to the region we serve and forge partnerships for the future."
Professor Purcell presented certificates to each of this year's award winners. Macmillan Cancer Support, which funds the Mustard Tree Cancer Information Centre, based at Derriford, has asked the University to help in its recruitment and retention of volunteers.
Judith Jolly, Area Fundraising Manager, said: "We are absolutely delighted to receive this award. Although the work will take place in Plymouth, we hope it will have far reaching consequences across the country, for any organisation that relies upon volunteer support."
Cornwall-based Friends of Par Beach will work with academics to investigate why their shoreline is so prone to having plastic and natural debris wash up on it.
Chairman Mike Freemantle and committee member Jane Richardson accepted the award. They said: "There is a lot of passion in the community for the project and we want to find a way to deal with this problem in an environmentally sustainable way. This is a wonderful award and will demonstrate to people that it is possible to get things done if you work for it."
Baroness Christine Crawley, Opposition Deputy Chief Whip, gave a keynote speech and paid tribute to the work of one of the 2009 projects, which investigated the experiences of GPs, carers and sufferers of dementia. The ceremony also heard from Steve Woollett, CEO of South West Forum, and the project team behind one of the other 2009 winners, who looked into issues of e-safety for youngsters using the internet.
In addition to this year's award winners, those projects that were unsuccessful in their application have been offered University support to explore alternative streams of funding, and have also been invited to consider the potential for student volunteers working within their organisations.