A collaborative led by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (BSOL ICB) has been awarded £100,000 to lead a project aimed at boosting community engagement and involvement in health care research - particularly those in underserved communities.
The grant has been awarded by the NHS Research Engagement Network Development (REND) programme.
It will fund a project delivered in partnership between BSOL ICB, Birmingham Voluntary Service Council (BVSC), Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (BCHC), voluntary and community sector partners Flourish and Catalyst 4 Change and regional National Institute for Health and Care Research Infrastructures hosted at the University of Birmingham.
Dr Clara Day, Chief Medical Officer at BSOL ICB, said: “Together, we want to reshape the ways in which health inequalities across Birmingham and Solihull are addressed. Our vision is simple yet powerful: to empower underserved communities to play a more active role in research, ensuring that every voice is not just heard, but actively shapes healthcare research.”
In the next six months, the team will be laying the groundwork to implement transformative work which will
- Identify and bridge gaps in community engagement in research
- Create seamless networks that eliminate duplication and strengthen community bonds
- Address existing power imbalances through genuine community collaboration
The overarching ambition of the project is to empower communities, foster trust, and cultivate relationships that endure far beyond the initial funding.
The funding will also support the establishment of the Birmingham & Solihull Research and Community Engagement Hub (BIRCH), led by BVSC. BIRCH will bring together healthcare providers, local government, the voluntary and community sector, public contributors, and academia to redefine the landscape of community-led research, engagement and participation.
BIRCH will be closely aligned with NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care System’s new innovative Community Engagement Framework aimed at ensuring citizens play an integral role in shaping health and care services and the reduction of health inequalities.