Our latest blog in this series features\u00a0Manchester Memories: The COVID-19 Era, a\u00a0creative project that captured the lived experiences of diverse communities in Greater Manchester during the pandemic.\u00a0This\u00a0initiative\u00a0was\u00a0highly\u00a0commended in the Public Engagement Category at the 2025 PPIE Awards.<\/i>\u00a0<\/p>\n
The\u00a0Covid-19\u00a0pandemic was a challenging time for all, but\u00a0research later revealed stark inequalities in healthcare access and vaccination programmes among certain groups. To honour these experiences, Stephanie Gillibrand, a researcher at\u00a0the University, led a team of over 20 contributors from various social backgrounds, life\u00a0stages\u00a0and local communities to co-create the\u00a0Manchester Memories: The COVID-19 Era<\/i>\u00a0zine.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Manchester Memories zine book launch event during the University of Manchester\u2019s Bicentenary Festival.<\/p><\/div>\n Building on\u00a0findings\u00a0from the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Greater Manchester (ARC GM), the project aimed to:\u00a0<\/p>\n The\u00a0result was a beautifully co-produced zine book, developed through a series of creative workshops and events, including:\u00a0<\/p>\n These activities received positive feedback from contributors, with some commenting:\u00a0<\/p>\n Art workshop with Caribbean and African Health Network.<\/p><\/div>\n “It was incredibly healing to be able to talk about Covid-19 openly. It was no longer a dirty, bad word that brought fear, but one that was simply a part of our lives – the good, the bad and everything in between.”<\/i><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n “It\u00a0was one of the first times I’d been paid for writing poetry and that it was a really nice experience.”<\/i><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Quite simply, the single most enjoyable part of research\u00a0I\u00a0have ever experienced, it was emotional,\u00a0fun\u00a0and hugely rewarding<\/i><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Over 250 copies of the zine have been distributed to local third-sector groups,\u00a0demonstrating\u00a0how creative\u00a0approaches can\u00a0make research findings accessible and meaningful.\u00a0Beyond its academic impact, this project became a celebration and tribute to the collective experiences of the pandemic.\u00a0<\/p>\n Additional\u00a0information:\u00a0<\/p>\n To find out more about PPIE: watch our\u202fshort film<\/a>, sign up to the monthly\u202fPublic Engagement Digest<\/a>, visit the\u202fPPIE blog<\/a>, or contact\u00a0srbmh@manchester.ac.uk<\/a>.\u202f\u202f\u202f\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.manchester.ac.uk\/bmh-sr\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/178\/2026\/05\/IMG_4022-225x300.jpeg\")
\n
\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.manchester.ac.uk\/bmh-sr\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/178\/2026\/05\/IMG_6670-300x225.jpeg\")
\n
\n
\n
\n