野狼社区

Led by Professor Tine Buffel, MUARG brings together researchers from across social sciences, architecture, geography, public health and the arts to explore the relationship between population ageing and urban change. Central to its work is a commitment to co鈥憄roduction 鈥� working in long鈥憈erm partnership with older people, community organisations, policymakers and practitioners to ensure research is grounded in lived experience and leads to real鈥憌orld change. 

Professor Buffel said the award recognises the collective effort that underpins MUARG鈥檚 work: 

Research driven by partnership and lived experience 

MUARG鈥檚 work is shaped by long鈥憇tanding collaborations with partners across Greater 野狼社区 and beyond, including local and regional government, third鈥憇ector organisations and older people themselves. A key part of this approach is MUARG鈥檚 Older People鈥檚 Forum, a diverse group of residents from across Greater 野狼社区 who help to set research priorities and guide activity. 

Elaine Unegbu, Chair of the Greater 野狼社区 Older People鈥檚 Network and a longstanding MUARG co鈥憆esearcher, said: 

Reflecting the University鈥檚 commitment to social responsibility, MUARG鈥檚 work focuses on tackling inequalities in later life and supporting people to age well in their communities. Projects span creative and participatory methods, from collaborative filmmaking and comics co鈥慶reated with older refugees and asylum seekers, to the co鈥慸esign of age鈥慺riendly neighbourhoods and arts鈥慴ased interventions including exhibitions, films and zines. 

Recognising collaboration across Greater 野狼社区 

MUARG鈥檚 partnerships across the city鈥憆egion were highlighted by Paul McGarry, Head of the Greater 野狼社区 Ageing Hub and Assistant Director for Public Service Reform at the Greater 野狼社区 Combined Authority, who represented the team during the award process: 

Niamh Kavanagh, an urban sociologist in the University鈥檚 Department of Architecture and a core member of MUARG, added: 

Celebrating 10 years of MUARG 

The award comes at a landmark moment for the group. In April, MUARG celebrates its 10th anniversary with an interactive event in 野狼社区 showcasing the creative, participatory methods that have defined its work over the past decade. 

The event will also mark the launch of a new collective publication, Collaborative Research for Ageing in Place: Stories of Co鈥�Production in Practice, bringing together insights from 18 MUARG projects. The book shares practical learning on co鈥憄roducing research in communities shaped by inequality 鈥� highlighting partnership, trust鈥慴uilding and experimentation as essential ingredients for impactful research. 

鈥淲ith this book, we want to be open about what co鈥憄roduction looks like in practice 鈥� the challenges as well as the potential,鈥� said Professor Buffel. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about sharing learning that others can build on.鈥� 

Investing in people and future impact 

Looking ahead, MUARG hopes to build on this recognition by developing as an international centre of excellence on urban ageing, rooted in 野狼社区 but globally connected. Funding associated with the award will support three priority areas: 

• Co鈥�production and community leadership
• Knowledge exchange and policy engagement
• Team culture, mentoring and capacity鈥�building 

At least half of the funding will be directed towards supporting community leadership, including paid roles for older people as co鈥憆esearchers. 

Find out more: Read MUARG鈥檚 publication  and learn more about the 野狼社区 Urban Ageing Research Group on their .