Skip to navigation | Skip to main content | Skip to footer
Menu
Search the Staffnet siteSearch StaffNet

Research and Business Engagement

Sustainability

Watch this film to find out more about a project exploring how residents in one of the university's closest neighbourhoods (Hulme) have been 'over-researched,' their experiences of working with researchers in the past, and how they would like to work with the university in the future. 

Highlighting local residents' experiences of extractive approaches to research, this project shows the benefits of more considered engagement and sustained relationships. It should be required viewing for anyone seeking to work with local communities. 

Freeze frame of two women with white blonde hair sat at a table with cups of tea in front of them, describing their experiences of being involved in research.

Over-researched communities

A film about the experiences that residents in one of our closest neighbourhoods (Hulme) have of working with researchers - and how they'd like to work together. 

Useful links and resources

Click on the boxes below to expand them and find out more about the research and people featured in the film

Featured projects

  • Over-researched but invisible: a co-creation project in Hulme, Manchester’ (Niamh Kavanagh & Tina Cribbin), funded through the University of Manchester's UKRI Research England Participatory Research fund.
  • Co-Creating Age-Friendly Social Housing, Dunhill Medical Trust.

Contributing researchers

Dr Niamh Kavanagh, Research Fellow, Department of Architecture.

Tina Cribbin, Community Co-Researcher, poet and activist. 

Anthea Cribbin, Artist and activist.

The Hulme Nannas. 

Publications and resources

'Hulme Nannas’ exhibition of (in)visibility, community and urban change’ (YouTube) – Film of exhibition and Celebration Event, 5th November 2025, Manchester Museum (Dr Joana Salles).

'Making a Difference' Awards film (YouTube) - winner, Outstanding Public Engagement Initiative, 2026.

Podcasts (x 3): Reflections on the 'doing' of community research (YouTube), Niamh Kavanagh, Tina Cribbin, and Anthea Cribbin. 

Niamh, Shakira Evans (One Manchester Housing Association), Tina, Dr Mark Hammond (Manchester Metropolitan University) and Sanjay and Oli Soutar (the Dunhill Medical Trust have co-written an essay on Working with conflict in community research, which provides context for the film.