News

Dr Sarah Wilson of the University of Stirling recently completed ESRC-finded research (Young People Creating Belonging: spaces, sounds and sights) into how young people who are looked after feel that they belong, or do not belong. The two-year project explored looked after people's sense of belonging (whether positive, negative or ambivalent) in domestic and other spaces. It employed various visual and audial methods to explore these themes.

Mabel Cooper, who has died of cancer, aged 68, was a charismatic and inspirational figure in the changing world of learning disability. She had a tremendous ability to draw on personal experience to tell stories that, written or spoken, engaged and inspired her readers andlisteners in many walks of life.

Today, Iriss and NHS Education for Scotland (NES) signed a second Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to continue our joint commitment to continuous improvement in Scotland's health and social services. We do this via workforce development, the promotion of organisational learning culture, and evidence-based practice and policy.

Mindreel, the database of films about mental health, has been completely overhauled and redesigned to firmly establish its place as an important and invaluable educational resource.

It now hosts just over 100 films, and there are a few more in the pipeline. The new features include:

• Improved searching
• Browsing by topic and type of film.

Visit Mindreel and let us know what you think.

About a year ago we received an invitation from Varna Business Agency(VBA) in Bulgaria to collaborate in the development and implementation of a programme to introduce innovative methods for exchange of knowledge, skills and approaches to social inclusion. VBA had found us on the web and been impressed by our range of services.

Claire Lightowler, Programme Manager (EIP) at Iriss has co-authored a report entitled, Incentivising knowledge exchange: A comparison of vision, strategies, policy and practice in English and Scottish Higher Education (PDF), which considers the 'incentivisation' and 'institutionalisation' of knowledge exchange activities within the higher education policy in the UK.

The first screening of 'The Road from Crime' film was shown at the University of Glasgow yesterday evening, Monday 18th June, and was very well received by the 250+ people who attended. It was introduced by Kenny MacAskill, Cabinet Secretary for Justice who stayed to watch the film, tweeting afterwards that he thought it was both powerful and insightful.

A partnership project of IRISS and SSSC, Workforce of the Future aims to bring key people from across social services organisations to work up and implement a number of creative ideas for shaping the future social services workforce.

Alison Petch, Director at Iriss, has authored a final evaluation of the Talking Points programme, an approach that focuses on assessing the outcomes important to the individual, planning how they will be achieved, and reviewing the extent to which they have been attained.

As it's Depression Awareness Week (22-28th April), we thought it would be a good opportunity to flag up Mindreel, a joint initiative led by Iriss in partnership with the Scottish Mental Health Arts & Film Festival and the University of Strathclyde.

Currently in pilot phase, the intention of Mindreel is to unlock the educational potential of the hundreds of films that have been submitted to the Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival since its inception in 2007. It includes a diverse range of films, including a number on the subject of depression and recovery.