University Reaffirms Commitment to Regional Development through Knowledge Exchange on Homelessness and Criminal Justice

Knowledge sharing and regional development, have been re-affirmed as top priorities for the University of Lincoln, UK, after it recently hosted two events in collaboration with key partners from a variety of backgrounds, including charities and public sector organisations.

The knowledge exchange events were an opportunity to bring together practitioners, academics and other stakeholders to understand the latest research, share learning, and identify/understand the challenges and opportunities they face.

The first event focused on healthcare access for individuals experiencing homelessness and was spearheaded by Thomas George, Lecturer and Research Assistant at the University’s School of Health and Social Care, and Emily Todd, an MSc Psychology student, alongside colleagues from the Schools of Psychology and Health and Social Care – Dr Jim Rogers, Dr Lauren Smith, and Professor Amanda Roberts.

Attended by around 40 professionals from health, care, and housing services in Lincolnshire, the event showcased research findings funded by the NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board and commissioned by developmentplus through Project Compass, the main provider of support for people experiencing rough sleeping in Lincoln.

This collaboration shed light on barriers and facilitators for healthcare access for people experiencing homelessness, sparking valuable discussions and highlighting the need for a dedicated forum to address homelessness-related challenges in the city and county.

The overwhelmingly positive feedback received emphasised the desire for more events, indicating an appetite for continued collaboration, shared learning, and improved partnership working.

Lead for the event Thomas George commented: “The Knowledge Exchange event was a fantastic opportunity to showcase our work on Health and Homelessness in Lincoln, capturing a wide range of perspectives. Within the few weeks since the event was hosted, there has been some noticeable change in communications from all partner agencies and a real drive to make a difference for people experiencing homelessness in Lincoln.

“We hope this work is the start of a bigger countywide piece of research to explore the whole of Lincolnshire and what can be done to improve the access of healthcare for people experiencing homelessness”.

The second event, hosted in collaboration with Desistance Emotional Work Policy Hub funding, was part of the Lincolnshire Women and Girls Research Network. Dr. Lyndsey Harris and Dr. Lauren Smith, alongside colleagues, shared academic evidence and practical experiences to better support women in contact with the criminal justice system.

With over 80 probation officers in attendance, the event marked the initiation of crucial conversations and highlighted the unique challenges faced by women in a system primarily designed for men.

Researchers presented on Desistance Emotional Work (DEW) and the 3 Es Model (Embrace, Empower, and Exit), encouraging practitioners to rethink their approach in working with women based on comprehensive research. Attendees expressed newfound insights, with comments reflecting the impact of the sessions on their professional perspectives and practices.

Reflecting on the event, Dr. Lyndsey Harris, Associate Professor of Criminology at the University, said: “We are privileged to have been able to host the inaugural East Midlands Probation Womens’ Event. It was an excellent opportunity to share our research findings with practitioners and encourage, explore and coproduce new ways of working with criminalised women”.

The knowledge exchange events underscore the University of Lincoln’s continued role in regional development and its dedication to fostering meaningful collaborations.

Attendees at the event on healthcare access for individuals experiencing homelessness

L-R: Dr Jim Rogers (School of  Health & Social Care), Mr Thomas George (School of  Health & Social Care), Dr Lauren Smith (School of Psychology), Mrs Becky Frost (Operations Manager Project Compass, developmentplus) and Mrs Lynsey Collinson (CEO developmentplus). Credit: Caylie Jago