Impact case study database

Experiences of mental ill-health have previously been under-represented in the work of GM ( Source 5.3), their only previous mental health exhibition being removed from Kelvingrove Museum in 2012. McGeachan’s research impact remedies this situation, most directly through the co-development (with OM) of: 5 one-day exhibitions of AE across 4 years (2015−2019) for the Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival (SMHAFF), a one-week specialist exhibition in Barlinnie Prison, a six-month exhibition in Kelvingrove, and a one-year exhibition in Pollok Civic Realm (PCR), a GM exhibition venue; 18 specialist curator tours of AE in storage at GM; and a 12-month community programme of arts-based events inspired by AE at PCR. The research-led curation of AE also reached 800 prisoners via the Barlinnie Prison exhibition. Circa 50−70 visitors attended each SMHAFF event, with 3,500+ visitors to the PCR exhibition and community programme. Beyond this extensive ‘outreach’ to varied publics, two key impacts have arisen:

(1) Changes to collaborative museum-academic practice, leading to a permanent cultural mental health legacy and a sustainable model for future practice: A key concern for GM/OM when operating with previous academic partners was limited meaningful collaboration and minimal follow-through engagement with community partners ( 5.5, Head Nurse in Recreational Therapy, Leverndale Hospital, 2019). Through partnership with McGeachan, a new model of meaningful collaboration and co-curation has been nurtured between the University, Museum and mental health, prison and other communities: “We seek to use this model of collaboration for future projects” ( 5.3, OM Manager, 2020). Interest in this ‘ground-breaking’ model of collaboration has been shown by other museums in London, Sweden and Belgium, and it has been invited as a case study of good practice for the international edited volume Cultural heritage for wellbeing: Inspiring cases that create positive change in wellbeing with heritage collections, a professional museum publication ( 5.1). The model of collaboration resulted in the exhibitions listed above:

“The exchange of knowledge and skills between us has benefited the delivery of a community co-curated project at Pollok Civic Realm in 2018− 2019 ... This has enhanced inclusion and representation of mental health and community knowledge on the subjects of mental health and creativity ...” ( 5.2, Curator of Scottish History, Glasgow Life, 2020).

“Working with Dr Cheryl McGeachan has enabled the collection to reach new audiences … This project enabled people with lived experience of mental (ill) health to collaboratively research and exhibit objects in our collection. Our collaboration facilitated an approach which gave agency to people whose voices are either under-represented or spoken ‘for’ in museum and academic establishments …” ( 5.2, OM Curator, 2020 )

“The team collaborating on this project developed a dynamic, socially engaged project

..., which not only allowed the general public to benefit from this collection, but also two very distinct marginalised social groups: people incarcerated in prison and those struggling with mental health conditions … The value of this project cannot be understated.” ( 5.2, Outsider Art expert, Edinburgh College of Art, 2020)

This collaborative model and its outcomes received external recognition in the UK ‘Arts in Criminal Justice’ Koestler Bronze Award, 2017, was shortlisted for Best Collaboration (Arts & Culture) at the University of Glasgow Knowledge Exchange and Public Engagement Awards, 2019, and has been nominated for a Museums Change Lives Institutional Award, 2020 ( 5.6).

Direct change to GM exhibition space (permanent): The research-led collaboration detailed above became one of the OM’s “largest scale endeavors” ( 5.1), significantly changing the representation of, and engagement with, mental ill-health across GM. The successful cultural outcomes here were critical to the senior management of GM approving a permanent AE display at Kelvingrove Museum (installed 2021 due to COVID-19 delays), specifying the use of the model of collaboration developed in the ‘AE project’ ( 5.3):

“Having been accessioned in 2012 the [AE] collection is finally recognised in the service’s foremost venue in 2020. Without Dr McGeachan’s academic work … this may well not have happened.” ( 5.2, Curator of Scottish History, Glasgow Life, 2020).

(2) Community engagement with Art Extraordinary benefiting the well-being and skillsets of diverse community participants: A total of 290 people participated across the AE community engagement programme, including individuals in prison, psychiatric care and mental health community services: ie. those from some of the most marginalised and discriminated-against groups in UK society. Not all participants could or were allowed to complete formal evaluations by their professional care staff, but a proportion offered verbal comments ( 5.5). All the cultural outcomes discussed here were co-developed and co-curated with community partners.

Research-led ‘stories’ of the AE artists were shared with community participants, who were then supported and enabled to select over 60 related objects for display in multiple exhibitions and for use in a dedicated GM handling kit (see below). Participants wrote over 40 exhibition labels, designed 7 exhibition panels and devised 6 exhibition guides and postcards (see illustrations) ( 5.8), ensuring that the voices and expertise of participants became intimately woven into GM’s curatorial practice. These cultural projects were designed to train participants themselves to become curators of the AE collection, developing new skills, enhancing senses of individual and collective achievement, and offering learning opportunities for groups not usually engaged with museums.

New skills: Participants and professional staff have identified direct cultural and skills outcomes:

Participants: “It really feels amazing [to be a curator], it really feels like a big achievement ... I suppose I have a little bit of an insight into how thing go together, how to position things ... I feel like I’ve got a little bit of an insight. It’s been really interesting learning what goes into that and I feel really proud that we have been able to have it up for the year [at PCR] and it’s been really special.” ( 5.5, participant, 2019)

“I think I’ve got a much stronger ability to interpret things and to be able to put into words, writing and interpretation – that was something I found interesting.” ( 5.5, participant, 2019)

Professional: “[It enabled us to] highlight some patients who are acutely unwell to introduce them to outsider art and also give them the opportunity, I guess, to go somewhere where they possibly have never been before, to see things that they never have that chance living in the community. So it was … was a great experience for myself and the patients.” ( 5.5, Patient Activity Coordinator, Leverndale Hospital, 2019)

In Barlinnie prison, 15 participant prisoners gained their Scottish Qualification Authority qualifications in ‘Communications’, demonstrating presentation skills through engaging their peers via object-handling in connection with project workshops. The resultant exhibition event was attended by the Head of Education for Scottish Prisons, who indicated “that the type of work being undertaken in this project, particularly its innovative collaborative nature, was a model of good practice for other prisons working with the arts” ( 5.2). 12 project participants acted as tour guides for the 800 prison exhibition visitors, leading a total of 40 facilitated tours of the exhibition, relating expert knowledge about the collection and further practising presentation skills:

Professional: “This has been an exciting opportunity to get students [prisoners] to carry out original research on a part of Barlinnie’s social history, whilst also gaining qualifications and improving their confidence.” ( 5.2, Head of Education Barlinnie Prison, 2017)

Building senses of inclusion through arts practice: The ‘stories’ used in the projects enabled participants to connect their lived experiences with the AE artists and artworks. Professionals supporting participants harnessed the value of the work, and it changed senses of inclusion and identification for patients:

Professionals: “I think the stories behind a lot of the art inspired a lot of the patients … to actually be able to do some art … I think something’s changed for the better, I mean we’ve made these links, these connections … it has changed for the positive.” ( 5.5, Patient Activity Coordinator, Leverndale Hospital, 2019)

“Our patients can relate to the objects because they potentially may have been in their life suffering as some of these artists may have been … Working with our colleague from Glasgow University to find out a bit more about each and every artist … that gives them a bit of hope that they could potentially produce something … that could in the future be in Kelvingrove [in the permanent exhibition].” (5.5, Recreational Therapy Nurse, Leverndale Hospital, 2019)

Confidence and empowerment: A key aspect to the design of the projects was to encourage confidence and inspire empowerment through the displaying of participants’ work in exhibitions and recounting of it in text:

Participants: “On a specific level, I do feel that I have a bit more confidence in my own work and what I feel comes under art. Prior to getting involved I was always very sceptical of my own work … I’ve got a new found confidence in looking at other people’s work and being able to see other than just the surface.” ( 5.5, participant, 2019)

“I’m a bit more confident as-well with the work being up and people reading it and I can go home and think about what do people think about my work and what do the words that I’ve put to someone else’s work mean.” ( 5.5, participant, 2019)

Professional: “I know she feels more confident about doing more sketching and drawing and she’s been doing murals for wards and I think it’s just being connected that has been inspiring for her … it connects in a way that kicks off another stage to your personal development …” ( 5.5, Head Nurse in Recreational Therapy, Leverndale Hospital, 2019)

Research impact legacy: Leading tangibly from these enhancements of participant skills, senses of inclusion and growing confidence, and from the deepened sense of what makes for successful community engagement, the following impact legacies can be detected:

Direct individual impacts: At least 13 participants created their own new artworks inspired by their work with AE, including textiles, painting, drawing and sculpture. A month-long exhibition at partner project Project Ability, entitled ‘Extraordinary Responses’, featured 6 participants who took displaying over 25 pieces of their own original artwork. These impacts have been long-lasting and demonstrate success in building participants’ sense of their own agency and expertise: indeed, as

a direct result of participation, “some of the group have gone on to form AARG [Autistic Artists Research Group] and will be undertaking an autism audit of Glasgow museums; responding to the museum estate and the collections’ ( 5.2, Director of Project Ability, 2020). Furthermore, one participant drafted and compiled 2 edited writing collections, another has written a blog, and prisoners have written 4 poems prompted by the BSU ( 5.7). Participants described the process here as ‘ *a fantastic journey’ ( 5.5).

Permanent cultural impacts for Glasgow communities: These benefits have been recognised at GM, who have invested a budget and staffing resources to fund the co-curation of a research-led AE handling kit called ‘Art Outside the Box’, designed as a permanent community resource. This handling kit will be on permanent loan from 2021. In 2018−2019, over 18,725 community members engaged with the OM’s handling kits ( 5.4). The research has thus directly influenced GM’s service priorities and investments, building on the benefits of community engagement with the AE collection and formulating a generalisable model of practice that will continue positively to impact various publics: “The permanent resources created in both Kelvingrove and through the Handling Kit create a strong legacy of the unique collaboration and are an asset to Glasgow Life's cultural infrastructure as they represent a range of the city's underrepresented voices” ( 5.2, OM Manager, 2020).

Covid-19 effects: The pandemic led to the delay of the agreed installation of the AE exhibition in Kelvingrove Museum ( 5.3) until 2021. Due to the inability to pilot the handling kit with community groups, a postal pack based on the kit was devised by all project partners. 250 packs were created and used by individuals connected to psychiatric (30) and community mental health services (60) and prisons (120) across Scotland ( 5.8). Packs were designed to extend the reach of the collaborative work while the handling kit was unavailable, and also to support vulnerable communities through the arts during the pandemic.

The 2014 REF impact case study related to Parr’s ESRC project was based on a series of face-to-face education events with police officers using research findings for professional training. The post-2014 research impact extends the purpose, depth and reach of the original training events and adds new sector-level policy and practice impacts at different scales with a focus on return. Since 2014, the research impact has been extended via: (1) institutionalised UK police training interventions (between 2014 and 2016) around better handling of families and the missing person’s return, with evidence showing change in ‘professional practice’ for officers taking the direct training; (2) changes in police policy in 2014 and 2016 (written into guidance for standards and operations), for which sector leaders provide evidence of impact leading directly from the research into police policy change; (3) wider multi-sector initiatives (eg. National Conversation ‘returned missing’ events in England, Scotland and Wales), for which sector leaders provide evidence of research-led change, leading to: (i) new policy priorities and guidance in charity and government; (ii) Parr’s direct influence in strategic and invited national roles because of her research-led expertise; and (iii) new Scottish government funded multi-sector training in Scotland (2018-2020) building directly on research findings; and (4) international reach in the Australian missing persons sector (police and charity).

(1) Police training and changing professional practice: Agreements with the College of Policing (CoP) and the internationally renowned Police National Search Centre (PNSC) led to the use of ‘missing people’s stories’ and other research findings as linked and core elements of both on-line and in-person training modules. The CoP on-line modules have been taken by 138,722 officers between 2014 and 2020, linking officers to the research findings ( Source: 5.1), while a direct taught module designed by Parr and Stevenson for search officers (POLSAs) who specialise in missing persons cases has been delivered to c.90 officers a year via the PNSC between 2014 and 2017. Evaluations by 300+ police officers taking the PNSC training modules show substantial anticipated and actual change in professional practice, as evidenced here:

Letter of evidence: “The University training package is having an impact on how officers understand their role in search, how they plan and deliver search with reference to the mind-set of different missing people and how they engage with families of missing people. We also know that professional practice and the reputation of the police has been enhanced and changed as a result of engagement with this training package.” ( 5.2, Module Lead, PSNC, 2017)

Self-reported evaluation example (anticipated change: 5.3):

2014 Police Sergeant: “I will have a more empathetic approach.”

Self-reported evaluation examples (actual change at 6 months: 5.3):

2015 Police Sergeant: “The training has been useful. On one particular search it helped focus my mind planning the search strategy and helped me understand issues around the thoughts of the individual prior to going missing and where they may go.”

2015 Police Sergeant: “The family feedback … was they were really impressed with the Police, they felt valued and felt we valued [the missing person] too.”

2015 Search Advisor: “I am more aware of what the missing person may be experiencing or considering, particularly when we are able to open a dialogue with them by email or telephone.”

(2) Direct influence on police policy (standards and operations): The research has directly influenced England and Wales Approved Professional Practice on Missing Persons (2016) and Police Scotland’s Standard Operating Procedures for Missing Persons (2014) . These combined changes direct officers across the UK to adopt good practice in providing ‘return interviews’ when adults go missing and provide more consistent and compassionate liaison with families in missing cases, two core recommendations from the research.

Letter of evidence: “Police Scotland is in the process of making significant changes into its management and investigation of missing persons. … The ESRC reports and recommendations have directly influenced our Standard Operational Guidance (SOP) launched in October 2014 (sections 16 and 19) issued to 13− 14,000 staff. These sections relate to ‘Family Partnership’ and ‘Management of the Return’ where we have requested that return interviews require to take place. In addition, we have included a new section on good practice family liaison work.” ( 5.4, National Missing Person Strategic Co-ordinator, Police Scotland, 2014)

Letter of evidence: “I can confirm … that the ‘Geographies of Missing People’ research project has had significant and far-reaching impacts within the police service in England, Wales and Scotland in terms of provision of new officer education materials and adjustments to operational guidance.” ( 5.4, Manager UK Bureau of Missing Persons, 2015)

Police Scotland also now report that 91.3% of all cases have had a return interview since 2017 ( 5.5). Return interviews are critical to future prevention and the research has directly influenced their adoption since the SOP in 2014 (as evidenced above). The impacts of these changes in professional practice in (1) and (2) are also being assessed at a sector level in Scotland via the current evaluation of the National Framework (2020: see below) ( 5.6).

(3) Directly changing government policy guidance with implications for professional practice: Parr was invited as a research expert, using the research findings, to serve on two different Scottish Government Working Groups to help develop the first national government policy guidance on missing people: the National Framework for Missing Persons in Scotland (2017). This guidance had four main objectives and an implementation plan to support a new multi-agency approach to deliver best practice for missing people and their families across all areas of Scotland. Parr was then invited to Chair an Independent Working Group For Missing Persons (2019-2021) to evaluate the impact of these developments, and this group reported to the Scottish Government Minister for Community Safety in 2020 highlighting evidence of good practice and areas for improvement ( 5.6).

Letter of evidence: “Professor Parr and the research gathered in the ‘Geographies of Missing People’ have played a critical role in the development of the Framework.” ( 5.6, Scottish Government Lead on the National Missing Person’s Framework for Scotland, 2017)

Letter of evidence: “Professor Parr’s ‘Geographies of Missing People’ research helped to inform and shape the Framework and so it is very welcome that she has continued to help guide this work since publication in 2017. Professor Parr’s national reputation in missing persons research has been important in taking this work forward and that is why I asked her to Chair the Working Group for Missing People in 2019 … The Working Group’s update report [was] published on 10 September 2020 ... The recommendations have been well received and will help inform and influence the next steps the Scottish Government takes … to implement the Framework’s aims through policy development and investment to enhance the good practice already in place.” ( 5.6, Minister for Community Safety, 2020)

(4) Directly influencing the Missing People Charity services and policy priorities: The charity Missing People has directly used the research findings to develop new service interventions (eg. the Aftercare Service, Wales) to address the needs of returned missing people in their service strategy. The charity co-delivered a series of National Conversation Events in 2016 ( 5.7) with Parr to lead sector change on professional response to return. Parr is part of a group that oversees the work of the Missing People’s National Co-ordinator for Scotland, a post funded by the Scottish Government as a result of the National Framework. The research is thus being used in ways that directly benefit missing people and their families via charity developments. To support implementation the Scottish government commissioned the National Training for the Efficacy of the Scottish National Framework (2017−2018), and Parr worked with Missing People to provide new ‘returned discussion’ training for 342 multi-sector professionals in 85% of Scotland’s local authority areas. Evaluation shows increased knowledge and capacity to help returned missing persons by non-police professionals: 100% of trainees report being better able to conduct a return discussion ( 5.7, Missing People Charity Report, 2019).

Letter of evidence: “The research has had a huge impact on the charity, both in terms of our direct service provision and on our policy and campaigning work. We have used some of the key findings of the original research to build a case for funding a pilot of a pioneering new service – Aftercare. I have been working closely with Hester on the ‘Returned Missing’ brief. The charity invested staff time and resource in these events … They have been extremely effective interventions – raising the issue of prevention and response at a national level.” ( 5.7, Research Manager, Missing People Charity, 2017)

Letter of evidence: “As Director of Policy and Development at the Missing People charity, I can confirm that the ‘Geographies of Missing People’ research findings and recommendations had direct influence on new service developments at the charity. As a result of the research we also worked with Hester Parr to put in place a series of event on ‘return’ in 2015 and 2016. We continue to be influenced by the research findings in our policy and practice work. The research has had significant impact on both service delivery and policy priorities in the charity and beyond.” ( 5.7, Director of Policy and Development, Missing People Charity, 2020)

Missing People invited Parr to give evidence at MP Ann Coffey’s Westminster All Party Parliamentary Group ( APPG) to safeguard vulnerable adults ( 5.7). This meeting led to the establishment of the National Task and Finish Group to improve multi-agency response to missing people in England.

(5) Sector recognition of impact (peer reviewed): The research impact described above has been recognised in a series of national awards ( 5.8).

(6) International reach: The research has international reach, being disseminated via the Australian Federal Police and influencing the Australian NGO Missing Persons Advocacy Network (MPAN): ‘it would be very safe to say that the work that you’ve produced has undoubtedly impacted the scene here in Australia” ( 5.9, Founder and CEO, MPAN, 2020); and, relatedly, MPAN has now developed a strategy to ‘humanise’ missing people.