10th Community Psychology Festival

This Festival aims to explore the past, present and future of community psychology.

There is a rich history of community psychology in the South West. Coming together again this year, we can listen, learn and hold onto the legacy of what has come before.

This wealth of knowledge and experience allows us to grow and develop the future of community psychology.

The 10th Community Psychology Festival will be held at:

• Market Hall
  Duke St
  Devonport
  Plymouth
  PL1 4PS

Our aim is to create a Festival with a sense of adventure, which navigates the growth and evolution of community psychology with humility, gratitude, ambition and to provide space for the opportunity to reflect on current challenges.  

We hope this year's Festival will allow people and communities to reflect on their own journeys and make space to be curious around the foundations and legacies they are building on.

Our coming together can serve as a catalyst for radical new ideas to be developed and new directions to be found. We want to make waves that will have ripples in the months and years to come in our local communities and and beyond.

What is community psychology?

Community Psychology is a branch of psychology that goes beyond an individual focus, viewing people in interlocking contexts. It is about understanding and addressing the social, cultural and economic factors that impact mental health and wellbeing. This is often referred to as the 'social determinants of health'.

Community psychology is based on the idea that:

• Healthy communities are connected communities.
• There is a bi-directional relationship between individuals and their contexts. We influence society and society influences us.
• Connected communities are ones that promote social justice and inclusion and promote marginalised voices.
• Collectivity, collaboration and creating a sense of community is key.

For this reason, community psychology seeks to dismantle barriers to civic participation and inclusion and emphasises the importance of understanding and tackling the social determinants of poor mental and physical health.

Community psychology approaches are all about working alongside communities, with social justice a core value.

The story behind the festival…

The Festival was founded in 2014 by the British Psychological Society Community Psychology Section as an accessible and engaging alternative to an academic conference.

Since then, it has given platform to work by community organisations, collectives, artists, academics, students, activists and charities; in short, psychologists and non-psychologists eager to bring psychology closer to the real world.