Exploring Emotional Wellbeing and Social Inclusion in Sheffield

As part of the Working Together in Research Initiative, led by South Yorkshire Innovation Hub, South Yorkshire Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Alliance and voluntary community sector partners, bids were put together to fund research projects that would increase opportunities and diversity in community research participation, addressing health inequalities.

In 2024 United Women Affiliation (UWA) in collaboration with Chloe Froggatt from Sheffield Hallam University, were selected to receive a grant to explore the impact of low parental mental health on family dynamics, which evolved to focus more broadly on emotional wellbeing and social inclusion. This shift enabled a more inclusive approach while keeping a mental health lens at the core. The project sought to amplify the voices of underserved families, and underprivileged single mothers – primarily refugees and asylum seekers from Sub-Saharan Africa, living in Sheffield.

Progress, Challenges, and Lessons Learned

The research aimed to understand:

• The barriers to social inclusion and wellbeing experienced by refugee and asylum-seeking mothers.
• How parental responsibilities, language, cultural exclusion, and access to services impact their mental health and community engagement.

15 single-parent families, including both adults and young people, participated in community-based research sessions and 22 individuals were part of focus group discussions. These included storytelling focus groups and individual interviews with a focus on how poor parental mental health impacts family dynamics, and the systemic barriers to accessing emotional wellbeing and support services. The sessions explored themes such as social engagement, emotional wellbeing, social inclusion, and the lived challenges of single parenthood. Importantly, local community researchers conducted parts of the research in native languages to ensure accuracy and preserve cultural nuance.

Participants reported widespread social isolation, language barriers, difficulties accessing mental health and GP services, and cultural stigma around seeking emotional support. Parenting challenges—especially among single mothers—were exacerbated by housing insecurity, lack of childcare, and financial hardship.

The project faced some logistical challenges, particularly budget pressures around translation, food, and volunteer expenses, but these were managed by reallocating overheads and adjusting other cost categories. An innovative highlight was a session using VR headsets to create a relaxed atmosphere for difficult conversations, enabling families to share their experiences in a safe, engaging environment.

Impact and Successes

The grant allowed UWA to conduct meaningful research and support community cohesion. In addition to valuable qualitative data, the sessions provided immediate benefits: food provision, social connection, and emotional support. The food element was critical, as many families experience food poverty. UWA used part of the grant to provide culturally appropriate food and later partnered with Fareshare to secure an ongoing supply of fresh and dried goods.

Chloe fully immersed herself in the community, building trust and rapport with families. Her collaborative approach allowed the group to envision a longer-term research agenda, including a forthcoming publishable paper. Quotes will be shared in native languages alongside English translations to honour authenticity.

Next Steps

UWA is now working with Chloe and other collaborators to produce a research paper based on the project’s findings. This paper aims to elevate the voices of Sheffield’s underrepresented communities and drive systemic change around mental health, social exclusion, and parenthood. This will include further data transcription and translation, thematic analysis and discussion, concluding with recommendations.

Building on this foundation, UWA hopes to secure future funding for deeper exploration and to maintain partnerships with researchers and organisations such as Fareshare. The ultimate goal is to embed this model of participatory research into ongoing community development. These steps reflect UWA’s commitment to both academic rigor and community relevance, laying the groundwork for a longer-term legacy aligned with the Working Together in Research principles.

Contact

Read the full report

Find out more: lewis.bowman01@gmail.com hawa@unitedwomenaffiliation.net
C.Froggatt@shu.ac.uk