Bournemouth University Community Voices Webinar Series
On 12 April 20219, the Community Voices Webinar was hosted by Bels (Health Bus Volunteer & Project Coordinator) and Mel (Principal Academic in Social Work at BU). Mel was able to discuss with Bels the context of homelessness locally and the barriers that many face when experiencing homelessness. Bels shared the rewards and benefits of volunteering and being involved in a charity that seeks to support and help the most marginalised in society.
“Some rough sleepers are familiar with their network so when they are housed, feel uncomfortable. One person they met slept in their own doorway as they felt lonely inside (loss of community when housed). The solution to homelessness isn’t putting someone in the house, find the root issue. Care must be trauma-informed”.
“Having multiple volunteers is important as it adds to the value of different people and perspectives. A casual conversation is very important. Someone who’s able to be patient with them while they’re on the phone with citizens’ advice is essential”. – Bels Wathen (Health Bus Volunteer & Project Coordinator)
Part of our role within the Centre for Seldom Heard Voices is to use our platform to amplify seldom-heard voices. In collaboration with the BU PIER (Public Involvement in Education and Research) partnership, we engage with many community groups, organisations, activists and campaigners who are conducting some wonderful work to promote inclusion and advance social justice across our region and further afield.
To amplify these voices we are introducing a spotlight series on our web pages and are introducing a new webinar series entitled: Community Voices. The inaugural webinar will introduce the South Dorset Research group whose aim is to draw attention to and find solutions to economic and social inequalities in West Dorset.
If you have an idea for a future community voices webinar or spotlight, please contact Mel Hughes: mhughes@bournemouth.ac.uk