Project overview
Play for Change is an innovative project that uses the power of play to make impact planning more inclusive and engaging. At the heart of the project is the development of a cooperative game that helps community partners and researchers co-create a Theory of Change - a framework that explains how activities lead to meaningful outcomes.
Traditional Theory of Change processes can feel overwhelming, with complex language and time-consuming steps. This project tackles those barriers by introducing a playful, collaborative approach. Through creative workshops with community groups, game designers, and researchers, we will co-design a game that uses simple language, shared metaphors, and clear goals to guide participants through building their own Theory of Change. The resulting resource will be adaptable for use across different projects and contexts, helping organisations and communities plan for impact in a way that feels accessible and enjoyable.
This project brings together an interdisciplinary team from the Primary Care Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine (Dr Sian Holt and Kate Henaghan-Sykes), Hatch – School of Healthcare Enterprise and Innovation (Dr Kay Lakin), Winchester School of Art (Dr Vanissa Wanick) and Board in the City CIC (Hayley Bistead).
By combining games, health research, and charity organisations, Play for Change aims to promote knowledge exchange and empower communities to shape the future of research and policy.
Traditional Theory of Change processes can feel overwhelming, with complex language and time-consuming steps. This project tackles those barriers by introducing a playful, collaborative approach. Through creative workshops with community groups, game designers, and researchers, we will co-design a game that uses simple language, shared metaphors, and clear goals to guide participants through building their own Theory of Change. The resulting resource will be adaptable for use across different projects and contexts, helping organisations and communities plan for impact in a way that feels accessible and enjoyable.
This project brings together an interdisciplinary team from the Primary Care Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine (Dr Sian Holt and Kate Henaghan-Sykes), Hatch – School of Healthcare Enterprise and Innovation (Dr Kay Lakin), Winchester School of Art (Dr Vanissa Wanick) and Board in the City CIC (Hayley Bistead).
By combining games, health research, and charity organisations, Play for Change aims to promote knowledge exchange and empower communities to shape the future of research and policy.
