Community Research and Engagement: What we have learnt so far
What We’ve Learned About Community Research Engagement and Involvement: Insights from Our Work and Partnerships
In recent years, we and our partners have been on a journey to deepen community engagement in research. From working with voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise (VCFSE) organisations to co-designing initiatives that empower local voices, our experiences have given us valuable insights into what makes community engagement and involvement in research effective, inclusive, and impactful.
The Power of Community-Engaged Research
Research is most effective when it is rooted in the experiences, needs, and perspectives of the communities it seeks to serve. However, historically, those most impacted by health and social inequalities have been the least involved in shaping the research agenda. Our work across Birmingham & Solihull, a superdiverse area with stark health and social disparities, has reinforced the need for a more democratic, community-led approach to research.
Through collaborations with the University of Birmingham, Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (BCHC), Birmingham City Council’s Public Health team and a host of VCFSE partners, we have sought to shift the balance—ensuring that research is not only done for communities but also with them.
Key Learnings from Our Work
1. Funding Is Essential for Meaningful Engagement
One of the most persistent challenges we’ve encountered is the need for sustainable funding to support community involvement in research. Through initiatives like Research Better Together and the NHS REND II project, we’ve put in place measures to support engagement including:
- Micro-grants for small charities to engage in research without compromising core services.
- Fair and transparent funding application processes that build community trust.
- Resources for training and education to sustain long-term community involvement.
- Funding community events alongside research to create informal spaces for meaningful dialogue and data collection.
2. Collaboration and Coordination Reduce Duplication
We’ve observed significant duplication of efforts in engage and involve the sector and wider communities in research activity, often due to a lack of coordination between different organisations. Addressing this requires:
- A central research hub (such as our upcoming Community Hub for Engagement in Research Practice – CHERP) to consolidate resources and foster transparency.
- Ensuring communities help shape research priorities.
- Implementing findings before starting new projects to create clear links between past and present research.
- Strengthening relationships between researchers, funders, and community organisations to move away from isolated, one-off engagements.
3. Engagement and Accessibility Must Be Prioritised
Community research must be accessible to everyone, particularly underserved populations. Key takeaways include:
- Going beyond broad categories like ‘BAME’ to ensure research reflects the diversity within communities.
- Providing cultural competency training for researchers to improve engagement methods.
- Translating research materials into community languages and offering interpretation services.
- Using varied data collection methods, such as focus groups or verbal surveys for those with literacy challenges.
4. Wherever possible, research should be community-led and co-designed
Communities must be involved from the very start of the research process. Our work has shown that:
- Co-production and co-design foster ownership of research findings and outcomes.
- Training and upskilling opportunities empower community members to lead research efforts.
- Trusted community leaders play a crucial role in bridging the gap between researchers and local populations.
5. Visibility of Research Impact is Key
One of the biggest frustrations for communities is contributing to research without seeing tangible results. We need to address this by:
- Ensuring research recommendations drive change and clearly communicating progress to participants.
- Sharing findings regularly and in accessible formats (e.g., visual reports, community meetings).
- Managing expectations—change can take time, but ongoing engagement keeps communities involved and motivated.
6. Addressing Power Imbalances is Crucial
Research must be equitable, avoiding extractive practices where data is collected without benefiting participants. This means:
- Establishing community research charters that set best practices for fair and transparent involvement.
- Avoiding ‘helicopter research’ where external researchers extract data and leave without engaging the community.
- Supporting long-term, community-driven research leadership rather than one-off projects.
- Recognising diversity within the sector and our communities where there may be hidden power imbalances
Moving Forward: The Future of Community Research
Our learnings have laid the groundwork for the Birmingham & Solihull Community Hub for Engagement in Research Practice (CHERP), a strategic initiative to unite our efforts under a single, cohesive framework. CHERP will:
- Provide infrastructure to support sustainable, community-engaged research.
- Strengthen partnerships between academic institutions, the VCFSE sector, and public health organisations.
- Build the capacity of local communities to not only participate in research but to lead it.
Through continued collaboration, investment, and commitment, we can ensure that research becomes a tool for real change—one that truly reflects and serves the needs of the communities we work with.
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