Covid-19 Research Collaborations between QUB and VCSE Sector Organisations

Successfully funded projects will focus on areas such as the rights of children and young people, mental health and wellbeing and loneliness. The research on children and young people focuses on their experiences of their rights under Covid-19 to inform professionals, policy makers and governments of their needs in response to the global pandemic. This project will work in collaboration with more than 20 international NGO’s and agencies globally.

Another  research collaboration will look at  the use of online arts based activities to support the mental health and wellbeing of patients with End Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD) who have been impacted by Covid-19. Collaborating VCSE organisations include: Northern Ireland Kidney Patients’ Association (NIKPA), Northern Ireland Kidney Research Fund and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. Volunteer Now, Age NI and Engage With Age are also working in partnership with QUB on a project to address loneliness amongst older people through the development of a series of befriending initiatives.

These productive research collaborations will provide academics and VCSE sector organisations with the opportunity to undertake mutually beneficial research addressing key issues pertaining to the VCSE sector, and have the potential for long term positive impacts on the lives of service users and voluntary organisations. We look forward to reporting on the full results once projects have been completed.