CIRCLE incorporates two major research investments — IMPACT and the Centre for Care — and was a key component in securing and now delivering the NIHR School of Social Care Research (NIHR SSCR). Alongside this, CIRCLE fosters a growing, inclusive interdisciplinary community that spans the Faculty of Social Sciences and beyond. A core objective last year was to revitalise the wider CIRCLE community - this commentary provides an update on CIRCLE activity over the last 12 months.
We have a renewed wider CIRCLE community with over 110 members, many of whom are actively involved in five distinct thematic groups in CIRCLE. Each theme has its own identity and early programme of collaboration, engagement, and research. The formation of our themes involved a series of workshops and other events and activities (more information on these themes will be added to our website over the next few weeks and months).
- We ran two well-attended research showcase events, where members of the CIRCLE community talked about their research and future plans, both of which received positive feedback.
- The CIRCLE website was relaunched at its new home, and significant work was completed on our communications and visual identity.
- We held a public relaunch event, featuring two external speakers, including an expert with lived experience.
- For our researcher network, Stimulation funds were deployed to support theme activity, including stakeholder events, writing activities, innovative dissemination methods and pilot projects.
- CIRCLE has enabled multiple successful funding bids by providing strategic input, advice, and infrastructure. This includes successful bids to the European Commission Joint Programming Initiative, NIHR Three Schools Prevention and Mental Health programmes, NIHR SSCR, and Wellcome Trust.
- We continue to strengthen our external reputation in social care research by contributing to the successful bid for the NIHR Research Support Service in Social Care, further embedding the University within national care research infrastructure.
- CIRCLE is very proud to have supported regional civic engagement through the launch of the Sheffield Adult Social Care Partnership, fostering sustained collaboration between researchers, council leaders, and care sector stakeholders.
As we look forward to the future of CIRCLE, we will continue to develop these achievements and will be making efforts to establish strong lived experience partnerships within our research themes, as well as promoting knowledge exchange opportunities.
We are proud to have built a fantastic diverse base of researchers, clearly tapping into an enthusiasm for collaboration and for access to the plethora of emergent opportunities in care and social care research. These are supported by an outstanding professional services team who bring skills and expertise in impact, design and communication, administrative support, planning and leadership.
This year, we also established the Sheffield PRISM (Professional Research Investment and Strategy Managers) Network, which is University-wide, and created links with similar networks in the White Rose region.
The achievements are evident in the range of research successes and the vibrant research culture emerging in CIRCLE. This places us in a fantastic position to further develop the research environment here, and we look forward to sharing further achievements with you.
To keep up to date with our events, news and outputs, please follow our LinkedIn page, and sign up to our newsletter (access from the Centre for Care website).