Short Abstract

Participatory research exploring how services collaborate to support people facing Multiple Disadvantage, fostering reflection, shared learning, and evidence-informed decision-making across government and third-sector partners.

Description

This presentation shares insights and lessons learned from a national research programme exploring how services can work together more effectively to support people experiencing Multiple Disadvantage. Across multiple workstreams, we delivered participatory research activities designed to foster learning, reflection, and collaborative decision-making across central government, local authorities, and third-sector partners.

Key activities and workstreams included:

• Workstream 1: Systems mapping and theory of change workshops to align stakeholders around shared goals.

• Workstream 2: Co-designing thematic research priorities and local area knowledge products to ensure evidence generation meets practical needs.

• Workstream 3: Collaborative development of beneficiary monitoring and identification approaches.

• Workstream 4: Value-for-Investment frameworks to support understanding of service outcomes.

These activities embedded reflective practice, collaborative inquiry, and the use of evidence into everyday decision-making.

The presentation will highlight:

• How participatory research fosters shared understanding and alignment across services–drawing on lessons learned from WS1-WS4.

• Practical lessons from designing and coordinating multiple interlinked workshops and engagement sessions across complex systems.

• How responsive, collaborative client relationships enable iterative learning, adaptation, and actionable insights.

By reflecting on these experiences, the session demonstrates how participatory research can strengthen multi-agency collaboration, embed learning into decision-making, and support evidence-informed approaches to complex social issues like Multiple Disadvantage.