2026
26 MARCH 2026
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Meeting the mental health needs of people in agricultural communities Speakers: Tamsin Fisher, Carolyn Chew-Graham, Dan Blake, Kim Bevan, Mat Rawsthorne, Josh Hall, Jordan Tsigarides, Richard West and Daniel James Summary Background: Farmers and people living in rural communities were at risk of depression and anxiety due to their working environment, external pressures, and social isolation. Access to services was often difficult. The webinar offered the opportunity to hear about research and innovations that aimed to improve awareness of, and support for, people in agricultural communities. |
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26 MARCH 2026
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Autistic adults’ experiences of dance, and co-creation of short films to increase awareness about autistic experiences and how to make dance more accessible
Speakers: Kelly Birtwell, Christine Rowland, Stephanie Tierney, Emily Corsellis and Claire Planner.
Summary Background:
The event shared findings from the Ada project (Access to Dance for Autistic adults). Being active through dance can help to support physical and mental health, and for some people, it could be more enjoyable than other forms of physical activity. The Ada project has had community involvement throughout and explored experiences of dance in autistic adults, including:
Through an online survey and individual interviews, the team explored why autistic people dance, the benefits, barriers and facilitators for dance in these different settings, and why people may not dance. Based on the project findings, they developed resources to support: autistic people to engage in dance; social prescribing link workers to recommend dance at home or make referrals to dance classes or socials; and dance teachers and organisations to be more aware of the needs of autistic adults. The team worked with autistic filmmaker Sophie Broadgate to create three short films to share general aspects of autistic experience, experiences of dance, and adjustments that can be made to dance environments so they are more accessible for autistic adults. At this online event, the team will share a brief summary of the research findings along with the three short films, which may be of interest to a range of healthcare and dance professionals, as well as autistic adults.
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31 MARCH 2026
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Systemic influences on parent carer mental health and co-creation of resources to inform service improvement Speakers: Gretchen Bjornstad, Kath Wilkinson, Flora Hemming, Bel McDonald, and Sharon Foxwell Summary Background: This webinar shared findings from the SPaCE Project (Supporting Parent Carers in England), a co-produced research programme exploring the mental health of parent carers of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Drawing on national survey and clinical data, interviews, and workshops with parent carers and professionals, the project found that parent carers experience significantly higher rates of mental health difficulties than other parents, alongside substantial barriers to accessing support or treatment for their mental health. Through a collaboratively developed system map and lived-experience insights, the session will highlight how systemic pressures, inequalities, and service navigation challenges shape parent carer wellbeing. The webinar will also introduce practical outputs co-created with parent carers, including an interactive website, an animation, and free training for professionals designed to foster more compassionate, trauma-aware, and relational practice and to drive meaningful system change. |
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