Celebrating the community at the centre of Smartline research
Above: Balloon animals, face painting and magic, part of the entertainment provided for families attending the Smartline Thank You event.
Who was the event for?
The Smartline Thank You event was an organised day of presentations, magic, face painting and technology held at Heartlands Cornish Visitor Attraction Pool on Wednesday, 26th October 2022. The event focused on a social housing community managed by Coastline Housing in West Cornwall, which has participated in Smartline research throughout the project.
Who attended the event?
The Thank You event was attended by 30 community participants, Coastline Housing, Volunteer Cornwall, Smartline researchers from the University of Exeter, the South West Academic Health Science Network and Cornwall Council, as well as advice from Community Energy Plus on how to save energy end money throughout the fuel poverty crisis.
How important for research is a connection with local community?
To understand the health impacts caused by ageing housing stock, poorly ventilated properties and household dampness, it is essential to understand the communities living with the problem. In research terms finding a community willing to collaborate over five years is a unique opportunity to reveal the relationships between several social, environmental and health factors with the potential to change how we live, build and manage housing now and for the future.
Coastline Housing has a history of providing quality homes and quality housing and has an established relationship with its customers based on service and trust. These communities have made Smartline a success and the Thank You event was an opportunity to give something back.
“It was a wonderful event during which we shared the vital work that has taken place throughout the Smartline project thanks to those who have supported us by taking part in various research activities which included - having sensors in homes, taking part in regular surveys, and joining community groups and projects. ”