Thursday 29 June 2023
Paddling at Holme Pierrepont: Health, Wellbeing and Safeguarding on the Water
About the project
Holme Pierrepoint Canoe Club (HPPCC) is a local sporting organisation with a long history, well established ties into Nottinghamshire communities, and strong connections to British Canoeing. Being based at the National Water Sports Centre means they have a variety of coaching and competing programmes across all levels of paddlesports. Despite this, however, it is not currently known what impact taking part in paddling has on the mental health, physical health, and psychological well-being of participants.
Engagement in paddling has the potential to positively support an individual’s mental health and well-being. Different paddlers use their participation to support their mental health in different ways and this project would like to understand how this works, and how they can support more paddlers at the club to improve their mental health. Some disciplines within paddlesports, especially those involving white-water or more challenging environments, come with their own mental health challenges. This is notably, but not exclusively, the case for competition disciplines. Turning to physical health outcomes, paddling has issues with pain, injury, health and well-being. In particular this is related to impact injuries, over stressing joints, water-borne illnesses and pollution. Drawing attention to, and starting a critical conversation about, these issues would be useful to HPPCC. Therefore, it is important that we understand how the mental and physical health benefits of paddling can be maintained and enhanced.
This research placement will begin to look at each of these areas together in a broad initial investigation of participant well-being at HPPCC. Together, this should provide a broad overview of the benefits of paddlesports at HPPCC, which can be used to increase the involved of people from local communities who could benefit from taking part.
The ideal candidate will have:
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong task management and organisation skills.
- The ability to carry out some desk-based research (reading literature, searching websites and other online data sources).
- Some relevant background experience at either Holme Pierrepoint Canoe Club (HPPCC), a similar sports club setting, or community work.
- Highly motivated personality.
How do our placements work?
- Co(l)laboratory Citizen Scientist Research Placements are designed to give practical research experience to local candidates with experience and understanding of relevant community issues, and who have a strong motivation to make a difference for local communities through research.
- This placement is part-time and will last between 6-8 weeks, depending on the candidate’s needs. Please contact the project team us to discuss your specific needs.
- Flexible working fully supported to enable you to fit the placement work around your life.
- All placement candidates will receive a total bursary £1,156.62. This equates to £10.42 per hour (2023-2024 National Living Wage), paid in regular instalments.
- Candidates will be given working space and support during their placement.
- After successful completion of the research placement, candidates will receive a certificate formally recognising their participation in the Co(l)laboratory Citizen Scientist Research Placements programme.
Who can apply?
- Research Placements are open to anyone who is a current resident of Nottingham or Nottinghamshire.
- All candidates must have the right to work in the UK.
- This scheme is NOT open to those with previous professional or postgraduate research experience (includes Research Masters and PhD degrees).
- This scheme is not open to those who are current registered university students.
How to apply
To apply, please go to the online application form linked below. You will be asked to complete a short form which asks for some brief personal details and for your answers to 3 short application questions. These 3 questions are limited to 2500 characters per answer and are as follows:
- Why are you interested in undertaking this specific research placement project?
- What relevant skills and experience do you have which would help you to be successful in this research placement?
- What do you hope to gain from undertaking this research placement?
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to a short, 20 minute interview. The purpose of the interview is to give you a chance to meet the project team, and for them to ask you a short series of questions to help them understand what you want out of this opportunity and what you can bring to it to make it a success.
You can read more about our Citizen Scientist Research Placement scheme, HERE.
- Application deadline: 11:59pm, Tuesday 25th July 2023
- Short, informal interviews will take place on: Tuesday 1st August 2023
- Proposed placement start date: Monday 14th August 2023
- The project team are happy to answer your questions and have informal discussions about this opportunity. Please contact Ella McLoughlin at ella.mcloughlin@ntu.ac.uk