The Raising Voices in Research partnership in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight has been awarded an additional £150,000 following a successful application to expand the project designed to increase the number of people taking part in health research. This now brings the funding to just under £250,000.
The first phase of the project, which launched in November 2022, brought together the local NHS, voluntary sector, community and research organisations to work with local people to find out how research can better involve a range of communities. 
A number of workshops and events took place from November 2022 to March 2023 to hear from local communities about what matters to them when it comes to taking part in healthcare research. All the results from the workshops have now been developed into a Local Research Plan, which includes key recommendations for all health researchers who need to involve local people in their work, on how to plan recruitment of residents in an inclusive and diverse way. The project was based on a partnership approach, including:
- Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board
- Action Hampshire
- University Hospital Southampton research organisations
- University of Winchester
- University of Southampton
- Voluntary, community and social enterprise sector organisations from across Hampshire and Isle of Wight
The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care System Research Collaborative was also created during phase one of the project which included over 60 people with an interest in involving people with research and engagement.
Dr Lara Alloway, Chief Medical Officer at the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board (ICB), said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this additional funding in partnership with local organisations across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
“Increasing the number of people involved in health research is really important to help ensure that findings are representative of all our population and have an impact across as many communities as possible.
“Phase two of the project will allow us to create a Research Adaption Programme which will match underserved communities and Voluntary, Community & Social Enterprise (VCSE) groups with researchers to embed these recommendations into specific, existing research.”
11 voluntary sector, community and social enterprise groups across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight were involved in phase one of the project and the team are looking at increasing the number or organisations involved in the next phase. Organisations who are already engaged with the project include:
- Recapture Life
- Yellow Door
- Solent Mind
- St Denys Activity Group
- Basingstoke Hindu Association
- Bantaba4change
- Drop the Mask Productions CIC
- Winchester GoLD
- Age UK Portsmouth (working in Hampshire)
- Disabled People’s Voice
- Sight for Wight
Nicky Judd, Head of Community Projects, from Action Hampshire said: “Raising Voices in Research followed Action Hampshire's approach of working with communities by partnering with the voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations from those communities. Diverse communities shared how research could better involve them to make research findings more reflective of our communities.
“We're really excited to be embarking, with our partners, on phase 2 which will bring researchers and communities together to act on those recommendations and develop 'community approved' research opportunities."
Paul Grundy, Chief Medical Officer at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are committed to building genuine, trusting research relationships with the diverse communities in our region. Raising more voices in research and acting on their recommendations will enable more people to take part in life-changing studies. We very much look forward to working with partners to help overcome barriers across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.”