Raising Voices in Research (RViR) currently has multiple opportunities for researchers to get involved in the project and work with local communities to increase diversity in research participation. Read on to find out more about RViR, the Research Collaborative and how we could support your work.
Opportunity 1: RViR Research Collaborative
Part of the RViR project is the Research Collaborative, a forum that brings together voluntary, community and social enterprise groups, community members, and researchers across the South East to discuss research participation, involvement, and engagement opportunities. Here is a link to more information about the purpose of the group: Research Collaborative | Raising Voices in Research.
The Research Collaborative utilises an online space but we also host three in-person events per year. Our next event will be held in Southampton on Saturday 26th September. We are looking for researchers to present at this meeting. To be eligible to present you must be currently recruiting participants to a study or looking to undertake PPI activities to shape your research proposal. We would particularly like to hear from researchers who work in the following areas but would be open to applications from researchers in wider health and social care research fields too:
- Skin conditions in Black and Asian communities such as eczema
- The impact of cultural awareness on the integration and well-being of BAME elderly in care homes and hospitals
- Interplay between obesity, fast food, and blood types and the effects on physical and mental health
How to get involved: If you are interested in presenting, please contact Action Hampshire ([email protected]) as soon as possible with further information about your research study.
Opportunity 2: RViR Research Adaption Programme
The focus of RViR Research Adaption Programme is to support researchers and VCSEs to work together to make updates to research projects or proposals to ensure studies are accessible and inclusive of the communities they’re trying to reach. For example, previous pairings have co-designed new recruitment materials or changed their recruitment methods as a result of guidance from VCSEs and their community members. By making these changes, under-served communities will be more likely to engage with research as it has been adapted to meet their needs.
Researchers participating in the Research Adaption Programme will undertake RViR ‘Developing community-led research’ training. After which you will be matched with a VCSE organisation to exchange knowledge and ideas to adapt an existing research proposal/project based on the community’s needs (that they will have identified through previous project work). Researchers and VCSEs will be expected to work together from October 2026 – February 2027.
Click this link to find out more: RViR RAP – Researcher Advert.pdf
How to get involved: To apply, please complete the following application: Raising Voices in Research: Research Adaption Programme- Researcher Application Form – Fill in form. The deadline to apply is 30th September.
If you have any questions about either of the RViR opportunities, please don’t hesitate to get in touch via [email protected].