Grandma's House

PI Title: Adele Horobin & Joanne Morling

Lead member: University of Nottingham

Many research projects struggle to involve a wide range of people from the communities they aim to serve. Opportunities often reach only a narrow group, leaving out many varied local voices, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds. Also, once a project ends, researchers rarely have time or resources to stay in touch, so valuable connections fade. This limits the School of Primary Care Research (SPCR) from becoming a strong part of our local communities.

To fix this, we need better ways for researchers and communities to connect, learn from each other, and work together. A shared platform could help build trust, focus on community needs, and create real benefits for everyone involved.

This idea builds on a concept by Tucker, a key connector with local African-Caribbean communities, and supported by community leaders. In African-Caribbean culture, young people visit elders, or go to "Grandma’s House," to learn life skills and share experiences. We’re using this tradition to bring people together, support learning, address taboos, and strengthen ties between generations, primary care researchers, and healthcare.

We piloted Grandma’s House in early 2025 including:
• Fernwood School Year 10 pupils and elders discussing identity and belonging on Stephen Lawrence Day.
• A celebration of family traditions with Caribbean and African food at Pilgrim Church.
• Sharing traditional remedies and skincare tips during Windrush Month celebrations at Beechdale Community Centre.
• Dads and Lads retreat focused on family and parenting.
• Breast cancer awareness event

These events brought people together, sparked meaningful conversations, and showed the power of community-led engagement. This platform can be applied widely to primary care, social care and public health and be a route for deepening stakeholder links to the SPCR department.

a. Aims and Objectives:

1. Hold events on themes around belonging, grief, self care and supporting young people and parents.
2. Plan and record podcasts to capture elders’ and young people’s memories and perspectives around, health, care and heritage.
3. Explore the creation of a ‘male space’ – a safe space for boys and elder gentlemen, creating ‘Grandad’s Shed’ activities around mental health, trauma and grief.
4. Preparing a larger funding bid to fully establish Grandma’s House for the decade.
   All aims were proposed by elders and youth attending our evaluation event for the Grandma’s House pilot. They were united in their desire to prioritise mental health and grief.

b. Approach:

Our approach is community-led and driven. Community collaborators guide the project, deciding on activities, important health areas, venues, and how primary care researchers and healthcare staff should join in. University staff support by securing funding, managing payments, and inviting primary care researchers and clinicians.

We will also build the Grandma’s House brand and create promotional materials to attract public attention. Our Deep End GP research cluster will learn from our community approach and link with the SPCR department, their patient groups and clinicians for events.

c. Proposed Timelines:

October 2025 to September 2026: we’ll establish our branding, run events, podcasts, and develop Grandad’s Shed. Final report and funding bid will follow by December 2026.

Amount awarded: £5,000