Glasgow Changing Futures

Learn Together

Learn Together is a GCF initiative that puts the programme’s ethos of collaboration, equity and community partnership into action.  

It is a series of open workshops where staff and students can learn together about how to work ethically, respectfully and collaboratively with people who are typically under-represented in research. The initiative helps researchers build confidence, understanding and skills for inclusive engagement. 

The workshops are designed primarily with researchers, research professionals and research students in mind. Four community organisations – each representing a different underserved group – will lead the workshops. 

GCF is committed to creating meaningful, purpose‑driven partnerships across academia, communities, the public and third sectors, and industry. Learn Together embodies this by bringing community expertise directly into the heart of how the University of Glasgow approaches research and engagement. 

This project has been devised and led by members of the University of Glasgow's Public and Community Engagement group, whose work involves developing and sustaining these key partnerships. 

Following GCF’s mission to nurture a challenge‑led, collaborative environment and to rethink how universities work with others, Learn Together creates opportunities for researchers to learn from and with - not just about - under‑represented groups. This reflects GCF’s belief that impactful, future‑focused solutions can only emerge when diverse perspectives are valued, power is shared, and communities are part of shaping knowledge. 

What we want to achieve

Build stronger, more equitable partnerships 

Learn Together forges, strengthens and evolves local partnerships with the University’s civic partners and community organisations who are excluded or under-represented in our research culture, through relationship-building, ethical collaboration, and sustained, meaningful engagement and involvement. 

Improve researcher confidence and practice

Learn Together addresses an urgent gap in training provision for engaging with under-represented communities, increasing confidence in our research community, raising knowledge of barriers faced by communities excluded from research, shifting away from harmful practices, and ensuring place-based collaboration and co-production are core components of our research activities and culture. 

Create a lasting, open‑access training resource

A key outcome of Learn Together is a permanent, open-source, self-guided training resource that captures insights and learning directly from communities, supporting Learn Together participants and maximising the potential impact of the project, as well as GKEF, REF, and other KE initiatives in the long term. 

How Learn Together works 

Learn Together partners with community organisations that bring lived experience and expertise in inclusive engagement. These organisations lead open workshops and conversations with University researchers, research professionals and students, offering practical insights into ethical collaboration with under‑represented groups. 

Community partners include:

• British Red Cross VOICES Network 

  The VOICES network is a collective of refugees and people seeking asylum. Together, they speak out about issues that affect them.  

  "This is a unique opportunity for refugees and people with lived experience of migration to work directly with researchers, sharing ideas and shaping research that truly reflects the needs and priorities of our communities. By bringing our voices into these conversations, we hope to help create research that drives real change and makes a meaningful impact for people seeking sanctuary.” (Red Cross VOICES Network) 

• Values Into Action Scotland 

  VIAS are a third sector organisation who believe in a Scotland where people with learning disabilities or autism have the same opportunities as everyone else and are supported to achieve these goals, whether to work, live where they want or have a relationship. 

  "Values Into Action Scotland are delighted to be part of this programme to help researchers develop their skills around inclusive practices. We hope this will ensure that people with lived experience of learning disabilities and autism are able to contribute to real, meaningful and inclusive research." (Values Into Action)

• DIFFERabled 

  DIFFERabled are a lived experience led, Neuro-Affirming organisation created by parents, offering support and information to neurodivergent people and their parents, carers and families. DIFFERabled aim to equip the neurodivergent community with knowledge; to understand themselves and their loved ones, allowing the ability to self advocate and improve wellbeing.

   "To the 'typical world,' I just want to say, just for once, let me have a calm and easy day" (DIFFERabled) 

• Chance 2 Change Scotland 

  Change 2 Change is an established Peer Group operating from the Phoenix Centre twice a week. The people who attend all have lived experience of long term health conditions and of living with the issues being addressed, such as social disadvantage, discrimination or economic exclusion. 

  "Only when we work together, each valuing the other's expertise, can we find solutions that create the real change that our communities so desperately need" (Chance 2 Change)

The Learn Together resource 

All learning from the initiative feeds into a permanent, open-source, self-guided training resource that will include: 

• Community‑led guidance on best practice 
• Tips and tools for ethical, inclusive engagement 
• Insights from workshop participants 
• Video interviews and documentation 
• Practical examples from across disciplines 

This resource is designed for long‑term use, offering a flexible, self‑guided way to build skills in community engagement.