Our Community Engagement Team is the key to our success in the community. Always keen and enthusiastic, they:
- Work with groups within the community to identify the best ways for them to interact with us
- Build relationships with organisations and individuals within the community
- Organise visits, events and promotions in the community designed to raise awareness of good oral health and access to dental treatment
- Manage and coordinate community-based Inter Professional Engagement projects for Plymouth University dental students
- Develop specific products, services and projects which reflect our ethos, such as our “Open Wide and Step Inside” animation
- Encourage support from a variety of funders to ensure that activities and projects reach their full potential
- Look at ways to translate what we do here in the South West for use elsewhere
The result of the work of the Community Engagement Team as across-the-board impact which includes:
- Increasing knowledge and awareness for those who take part in our activities
- Reducing negative barriers and perceptions that frequently surround accessing dental services
- Increased awareness of the importance of a well-balanced diet
- Reducing dental pain and anxiety for ‘at risk’ groups
- Encouraging families to establish good oral hygiene habits
- Helping children to brush effectively
- Enabling and empowering people to make more informed choices about their oral health
All these active networks and partnerships have ensured that many people who would not traditionally access dentistry have received treatment at our Dental Education Facilities. Students have provided dental care and treatment to people which have in some circumstances been life changing; creating confidence and building self-esteem as a result of the excellent clinical care delivered by the whole dental team.
If you would like more information about the Community Engagement Team, please contact Robert Witton:robert.witton@plymouth.ac.uk