Leicester researchers proposed a wide range of creative ideas including community health fairs, research cafés, interactive workshops and creative engagement projects designed to make research more accessible, inclusive and relevant to local people.
Researchers across the NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre and the Institute for Precision Health developed these ideas as part of a recent Health Outreach Funding Call designed to strengthen public involvement in research. The call invited researchers to develop new ways of working with communities to help shape future health research across Leicester.
The response highlighted the enthusiasm and creativity within Leicester’s research community, with proposals covering topics from respiratory health and cardiovascular disease to metabolic health, cancer care and research participation.
Several projects focus on bringing research closer to communities through innovative engagement approaches. These include interactive health fairs, community workshops, research cafés and creative activities designed to make research more accessible and inclusive.
For example, one proposal aims to build respiratory health awareness through community workshops that combine physical activity and discussions about how viruses spread and how people can protect themselves. Another project proposes a community cardiovascular health fair offering screening, talks and opportunities for people to learn about ongoing research.
Other ideas focus on strengthening trust between researchers and communities. One project will explore how healthcare empathy and trust can be improved through co-design workshops with community members. Another proposes research cafés where participants can share perspectives on how to prevent ‘imposter participants’ in research while maintaining inclusive involvement.
Several proposals also aim to address health inequalities. For example, one project plans to work with ethnic minority communities to co-design more culturally appropriate approaches to weight management research and services.
Across the submissions, one theme was common that researchers are keen to work more closely with communities to shape research from the earliest stages. Many of the proposals focus on listening to people’s experiences, building trust, and creating opportunities for communities to influence the direction of future studies.
These ideas will now move forward with funding and will begin taking place across Leicester in the coming months. Further updates and details about the projects will be shared soon.