Food, Ethics and Community: Using Cultural Animation to Develop a Future Food Vision

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The role of theatrical interventions in developing community change: an ethnographic study

The purpose of this thesis is to explore the role of theatrical interventions in developing community change. The study explores the work of one theatrical outreach department known as Encompass, with reference to the five key themes of individual and collective change, space and play, co-production, communication and catharsis. This thesis argues that the work of Encompass can be seen as successful in facilitating change for community members both individually and collectively. Furthermore, this thesis suggests that the five key themes explored are interlinking and as such are combinable components in pursuit of change. An ethnographic approach underpinned by an interpretivist paradigm was employed during this study. Data collection was completed via semi-structured interviews, participant observations, document analysis and photography. This thesis suggests that theatrical outreach departments have the potential to make real and sustained contributions to the lives of individuals and communities. Creative methods such as Cultural animation are shown to have significant impacts in bringing together diverse sets of individuals to work on shared community problems, while also improving participant confidence. The study offers insight into the consequences of such work for theatrical practitioners, while also offering a new theoretical model illuminating the potentially interdependent relationships of the key themes explored within this thesis in relation to achieving individual and collective change. This thesis adds to the existing literature on how theatrical interventions can facilitate community change. The thesis also has the potential to benefit theatrical practitioners attempting to develop their work within their local communities, and individuals contemplating participation in Encompass projects

Emotional Well-being for People with Cancer:A narrative review of charity sector resources and peer-reviewed articles for effects of complementary interventions

Additional to the primary health concerns for an individual with cancer are secondary symptoms that can manifest as feelings of reduced emotional well-being, increased feelings of depression or anxiety. While chemotherapy and radiotherapy form the nexus of traditional treatment, many individuals use complementary or alternative therapies (CAM) to manage these secondary health issues. The following report contains two sections. The first section details the content of five UK cancer charity webpages with respect to complementary or alternative therapies. The second section describes the results of a systematic literature review of peer-reviewed articles studying the effects of CAM in patients with cancer since over the last fifteen years. Macmillan Cancer Support offers the following definition, which will be used throughout this report: Conventional medical treatments are used by doctors to treat people with cancer. They include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormonal and targeted therapies. These treatments are scientifically tested and researched. They can cure many cancers, help people to live longer or reduce their symptoms...complementary therapies are used alongside, or in addition to, conventional medical treatments. They do not claim to cure cancer. People use them to boost their physical or emotional health. Or to relieve symptoms or side effects. Some have been scientifically tested to check how effective and safe they are...alternative therapies are used instead of conventional medical treatments. They are not tested in the same way as conventional medical treatments. Some claim to treat or cure cancer. But no alternative therapies have been proven to cure cancer or slow its growth and some may be harmful.’ (www.macmillan.org.uk/information-and-support/coping/complementary- therapies/complementary-therapies-explained/complementary-alternative- therapies.html)

Co-producing community and individual change through theatrical interventions

This article sheds light on the role of co-produced creative methods in creating change, with particular reference to marginalized communities and taboo topics. In doing so, the paper offers a vignette of a day-long theatrical outreach event exploring the topic of female genital mutilation (FGM). Our paper offers discussion of how creative methods can facilitate individual and collective change surrounding taboo topics, such as FGM, rather than the often discussed relationship between creative methods and organizational change. Furthermore, we suggest that co-produced creative methods are beneficial in providing communities with opportunities to approach taboo societal issues in new and inclusive ways

Food, Ethics and Community: Using Cultural Animation to Develop a Food Vision for North Staffordshire

Eating ethically involves a plethora of activities, being both a contingent and a challenging practice (Williams et al, 2015). The desire to be more ethical in our food choices is connected to anxieties over food consumption, including how and what we should be eating (Ashley et al, 2004), the conditions of production and distribution, highlighted through various food scares from BSE to horse meat in burgers (Jackson, 2010) and the amount of food that gets wasted in the process (Evans, 2014). Such are the range of issues that it becomes hard for consumers to identify a precise focus for the anxiety beyond a general ‘lack of confidence in food’ (Osowski et al, 2012:58) with the result that they feel unsure as to how to respond (Benson,1997)

Social Media Networks and Community Development in Work-based Undergraduate Students

Abstract The purpose of the study was to explore how students on two related work-based degree courses with limited opportunities for face to face interaction used social media platforms to support their experiences and learning. The students involved work as teaching assistants in a range of mainstream and special schools in the East Midlands and attend classes one day a week. It was noted by tutors that students made frequent references to using various social media platforms for sharing student-to-student information relating to the taught sessions or assignments in preference to the university’s virtual learning environment. To investigate this phenomenon, a case study approach, using focus groups and a paired interview, was adopted. The entire student population on the courses was invited to participate, so the sample was self-selecting and a total of 11% of the students volunteered, participating in either a focus group discussion or paired interview. The study found that students made extensive use of social media platforms, mainly Facebook and Whatsapp, for academic and affective support. Students found this to be an effective way to keep in touch with one another away from university, to share resources and experiences and felt that it helped with their identity as a higher education student

Detection of BRAF splicing variants in plasma-derived cell-free nucleic acids and extracellular vesicles of melanoma patients failing targeted therapy therapies

The analysis of plasma circulating tumour nucleic acids provides a non-invasive approach to assess disease burden and the genetic evolution of tumours in response to therapy. BRAF splicing variants are known to confer melanoma resistance to BRAF inhibitors. We developed a test to screen cell-free RNA (cfRNA) for the presence of BRAF splicing variants. Custom droplet digital PCR assays were designed for the detection of BRAF splicing variants p61, p55, p48 and p41 and then validated using RNA from cell lines carrying these variants. Evaluation of plasma from patients with reported objective response to BRAF/MEK inhibition followed by disease progression was revealed by increased circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) in 24 of 38 cases at the time of relapse. Circulating BRAF splicing variants were detected in cfRNA from 3 of these 38 patients; two patients carried the BRAF p61 variant and one the p55 variant. In all three cases the presence of the splicing variant was apparent only at the time of progressive disease. BRAF p61 was also detectable in plasma of one of four patients with confirmed BRAF splicing variants in their progressing tumours. Isolation and analysis of RNA from extracellular vesicles (EV) from resistant cell lines and patient plasma demonstrated that BRAF splicing variants are associated with EVs. These findings indicate that in addition to plasma ctDNA, RNA carried by EVs can provide important tumour specific information