Impact Review 2024-25: Research inclusion

The diverse Research Engagement Network, formed in 2023, has made significant strides in promoting inclusive health research and building trust between researchers and racially minoritised communities in the region.

Funding secured

In August 2024 the Network was awarded a further £76,000 by NHS England to help make local mental health research more representative. The funding will go towards building trusted relationships with the region’s Black African and Caribbean heritage communities to unlock a greater understanding of stigma, barriers and service issues around mental health.

Network expansion

Membership grew by over 100 in 2024-25. The Network now has more than 240 members, with consistently strong participation at meetings, fruitful connections being made and improvements to research practices underway.

Research support

The Network has handled over 100 requests to support research since it began, assisting with participant recruitment, focus groups and culturally appropriate material adaptation, as well as co-producing and designing research.

Its Health Ambassadors are trusted individuals from diverse communities working to enhance research engagement. To date, five ambassadors have supported approximately 80 research projects, earning high praise from researchers for their contributions.

Community events

Engagement events have taken place with Hong Kong Chinese and Roma communities, alongside gender-specific sessions for different health conditions.

Initiatives like ‘Community MOT’ days, a bladder and bowel health conference, and an event for women of colour about chronic pain have contributed to better understanding of local health needs.

Institutional impact

Bristol Medical School piloted inclusivity training, partly designed and delivered by members of the Network, and has developed plans to planning to appoint a dedicated engagement lead.

NIHR ARC West and VCSE partners are co-developing training for community researchers and People in Health West of England also co-delivered training to enhance research literacy among VCSE staff and build capacity within those organisations to become more research active.

National influence

Bristol Health Partners successfully piloted a new approach to collecting data on the diversity of participants in health research locally. The NIHR Research Delivery Network Board is currently discussing how best to expand this work across England.