Raising Voices in Research (RViR), the collaboration between community groups, the voluntary sector, NHS associates, and research units, has marked its second year.

The initiative, targeting Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, has the goal of promoting research diversity.

On March 26, a commemorative event was conducted at Central Hall, Southampton, where partners across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight gathered. They disclosed their achievements in the past two years and the yield from the project.

Nicky Judd from Action Hampshire said: “This project has once again shown what an effective bridge voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations are to help us hear from and work with diverse communities.

"The insights that experts by experience have shared is gold dust! It’s exciting to see how much researchers learned through their interactions with these communities, and how they adapted their research methods as a result. Several communities told us this was the first time they have felt really heard.”

RViR initiated in December 2022 and obtained funding for the second phase valued at £150,000 in September 2023.

This means that the project has received close to £250,000 of funding via the Integrated Care Systems Research Engagement Network Development (REND) Programme, with the backing of NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care.

Action Hampshire led the scheme in partnership with NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight, University Hospital Southampton, the University of Winchester, and regional National Institute for Health & Care Research associates.

Debra Gray from University of Winchester spoke about the evaluation and training: “Our evaluation highlights the amazing impact that RViR has had on communities, VCSE organisations and researchers across Hampshire and Isle of Wight, providing spaces for conversations about research that didn’t exist before.

"We hope the training will continue to provide a bridge between the RViR communities and researchers through improving research experience and contribution."

Other voluntary organisations, social enterprises and community groups also supported the implementation of the project, voicing their community viewpoints to mould research.

Phase two (September 2023 to March 2024) of the venture invited Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) bodies from phase one, whose task was to cooperate with researchers to put their recommendations into practice.

Complementary to this, a training module was being co-planned amid communities and the University of Winchester, to present the work of RViR.

A fresh alliance called Hampshire & Isle of Wight Research Collaborative was formed. This group comprises research enthusiasts who share a common desire, to ensure diversity in community voices, and has been active in both phases. Eight new organisations joined in the second phase of the project.

They work with individuals battling homelessness, those from the LGBTQIA+ community, asylum seekers and refugees. All these groups engaged in phase one workshops that discovered barriers hindering people from participating in health research.

RViR and its participating organisations co-developed a Local Plan for Research, a crucial set of recommendations for researchers who involve locals in their work and recruitment of patients in an inclusive manner. Seven voluntary, community and social enterprise groups from phase one revisited the project.

Participating organisations in phase two included Work Better Innovations, Breakout Youth, Portsmouth Pride, and Step by Step among others.

Post the celebration, an evaluation of the findings is planned, and results will be distributed amongst partners, associated groups and NHS England.