What is REALITIES?
REALITIES is a research project exploring health inequalities of communities in North Lanarkshire, Edinburgh, Dundee, Clackmannanshire and Easter Ross. REALITIES wants to create healthier and more resilient communities and environments. We are doing this by bringing together communities, engaging in creative activity and reimagining what healthy systems might look like.
This is an opportunity for communities to use creativity to shine a light on the issues negatively affecting their life.
This research was funded by a UKRI ‘mobilising community assets to tackle health inequalities’ Research Grant for the project titled: “This research was funded by a UKRI mobilising community assets to tackle health inequalities Research Grant for the project titled: REALITIES in Health Disparities: Researching Evidence-Based Alternatives in Living, Imaginative, Traumatised, Integrated, Embodied Systems, Grant Ref: AH/Z505456/1. The Project Lead is Marisa de Andrade at The University of Edinburgh. Other Co-Investigators include the University of Bath, Manchester Metropolitan University, the University of Dundee, Glasgow School of Art, North Lanarkshire Council, Bethany Christian Trust, Flip of the Coin, Artlink Central, Ochil Youth Community Improvements, and Ninewells Community Gardens.
NL Asset Hub
North Lanarkshire is one of five Asset Hubs engaging with REALITIES. Our Community Embedded Researcher for the Project is Deborah McArthur. Deborah is one of the Council’s Arts Development Officers who comes from a Participatory Arts and Theatre background. The Arts Development Teams strategy aligns with the values of REALITIES. We wholeheartedly believe creativity can support in tackling key social issues and health inequalities for our communities.
Our Asset Hub will be work with a range of partners to engage with New Scots, those in connection with the Justice System, as well as exploring the difference Social Prescribing can make within North Lanarkshire. If you are an organisation or individual working within any of these areas and are interested in finding out more about REALITIES, please email mcarthurd@northlan.gov.uk
What we’ve been up to…
Creative Hub Sessions – Cumbernauld
What does it mean to be a New Scot in North Lanarkshire?
REALITIES Consortium
Stay up to date with what’s going on with the REALITIES project on the Measuring Humanities website and why not check out our REALITIES newsletters to see what’s been happening across the 5 Asset Hubs:
REALITIES Newsletter September 2024
REALITIES Newsletter December 2024
REALITIES Newsletter April 2025