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Relational Research Workshop for Challenge Us! Research Partners

Author(s): Gini Harrison

16/06/2025

How can academic research catalyse real-world change? This was the central question driving the recent Relational Research Workshop, co-facilitated by Nudrat Hopper and Dr Timothy Hall. The event brought together Open University researchers and partner organisations, including charities awarded Challenge Us! funding, under the umbrella of the Open Societal Challenges (OSC) programme. The focus: how to make research not just relevant, but impactful.

The day began by exploring the Theory of Change, a tool that helps researchers map out how their work can lead to societal transformation. We considered a broad spectrum of change-making strategies, ranging from advocacy and community organising to education, media coverage, and social enterprise. The message was clear: research can be a powerful driver of change, but only when it connects meaningfully with those it aims to serve.

A significant part of the workshop delved into community organising—a participatory approach that emphasises developing local leadership, strengthening grassroots organisations, and pushing for structural change. A key concept here was the “House Meeting”: small, relational gatherings where people affected by an issue come together to share stories, identify problems, and co-create solutions. This process underscores a central tenet of the day: research should be co-produced with the communities it concerns.

We were also encouraged to think strategically about influence and power. Who holds the levers of change? And how can we approach them? Whether it's presenting findings to MPs or mobilising local media, engaging the right stakeholders is essential. It was also stressed that stories (especially those drawn from lived experience) can be powerful tools in persuading and motivating action. One particularly useful tool we explored was the Power-Interest Grid (or Mendelow’s Matrix). This framework helps identify which stakeholders to prioritise by plotting their level of interest against their influence. The resulting quadrants inform engagement strategies (such as regular briefings or targeted meetings) tailored to each group's position and needs.

Relational Research training day

Image: Participants learn to apply the Power-Interest Grid to their research

Overall, the workshop offered a thought-provoking blend of theory and practice. It challenged us to reframe research not as a standalone output, but as a relational process—one grounded in listening, strategy, and collaboration. For those of us seeking to generate real impact through our work, it provided both the tools and the inspiration to move from insight to action.

relational-research-sketchnote-vbowskill.jpg

Image: SketchNote summary of the event by Vicky Bowskill

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