Pan North West: Strengthening research engagement and collaboration
Francesca McIntosh at the event promoting BRIDGE
Last week, the Pan North West event took place in Manchester, bringing together researchers, healthcare professionals, and community organisations to strengthen collaboration and engagement. In this blog post, our Research and Communications Coordinator, Francesca McIntosh, shares her insights and key takeaways from the event.
As the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise research coordinator for Cheshire and Merseyside and the creator of the BRIDGE Research Network, I had the privilege of working alongside the Research Engagement Network teams across the North West to organise a pan North West event, a day filled with powerful discussions, shared experiences, and a collective drive to make research more inclusive and community-led. The energy in the room was inspiring, and it was clear that everyone was committed to breaking down barriers and ensuring that research truly serves all communities.
The day began with insightful presentations that highlighted the importance of research engagement at both a national and regional level. Alice Williams from NHS England provided a national perspective on the ICS Research Engagement Network programme, emphasising the role research plays in improving health outcomes, job satisfaction for health and care staff, and the wider economy.
She shared compelling data demonstrating that research-active hospitals deliver better care and that for every £1 invested in research, there is a £19 return to the wider economy. However, she also stressed that research must be representative of all communities, as disparities in clinical trials can lead to treatments that don’t work as well for some groups. This was a crucial reminder that research must be shaped by and for the people it aims to serve.
Teams from Cheshire & Merseyside, Greater Manchester, and Lancashire & South Cumbria shared how they are working to increase diversity in research participation and tackle systemic barriers. It was particularly encouraging to see how different regions are developing community-led research projects, focusing on mental health inequalities, data accessibility, and inclusive engagement strategies.
For me, one of the most powerful aspects of the event was hearing directly from diverse communities about their experiences with research. Some of the projects that stood out included:
The Deaf Village in Blackburn, where community members shared the challenges deaf individuals face in research and healthcare. Their insights reinforced the need for specialist interpreters, inclusive communication tools, and culturally appropriate engagement.
Streetlife in Blackpool, where innovative comedy-based workshops have been used to encourage research participation in a way that feels safe and empowering.
Inspire Women Oldham, who are building confidence in research through peer-led initiatives. The StrongHer Together project showcased how women can take ownership of research and shape studies that directly impact their health and wellbeing.
To learn more about these initiatives and explore all projects shared at the event, you can view the presentation slides here.
Making research more accessible
A recurring theme in discussions was the need to remove jargon and acronyms that can make research feel inaccessible. Many of us agreed that clearer communication is needed so that more people can understand and engage with research opportunities.
There was also a push for greater visibility of ongoing projects, so organisations can identify similar work happening elsewhere and collaborate rather than duplicate efforts. Integrated Care Boards were encouraged to use and share data more effectively, ensuring that research is driven by real-world evidence.
Addressing barriers and supporting community researchers
A major discussion point was how funding processes sometimes create competition rather than collaboration. We need to move towards a collective approach to securing resources, ensuring that research is done with communities, not to them.
Many attendees also called for affordable and accessible training courses to help community members become researchers, rather than always relying on external experts. There was a clear message that we need to develop researchers from within underrepresented groups, making lived experience a central part of research design. Training should also be available in various formats to accommodate different learning styles.
Technology access was also raised- something as simple as having a laptop can determine whether someone can participate in research. We need to address these resource gaps to make research more equitable and inclusive.
The role of BRIDGE Research Network
Throughout the event, BRIDGE Research Network, was mentioned as a potential solution to many of these challenges. BRIDGE was developed by VSNW with support and influence by both community voices and the research infrastructure across the north west coast.
BRIDGE provides a collaborative space for sharing research opportunities, showcasing good practice, finding research partners, and openly discussing the struggles that come with research engagement. There was a strong appetite for using BRIDGE to create and share resources, making it easier for organisations to learn from one another.
One of the biggest takeaways was the need for tangible evidence of research impact. We often hear that research is important, but communities need to see the difference it makes. BRIDGE can help VCFSE organisations work with researchers to demonstrate real-world benefits, from policy change to better service delivery.
Moving forward together
Research is at its best when it is community-led and co-designed. The voices and insights shared reinforced the importance of putting people at the heart of research, ensuring they are not just participants but active partners in shaping the research agenda.
As we move forward, I am excited to continue working on BRIDGE Research Network and our partners to make research more inclusive, collaborative, and impactful. This event was a fantastic step in the right direction, and I look forward to seeing how these discussions shape the future of research engagement in the North West.
A huge thank you to everyone who contributed- let’s now keep the conversation going and make sure research works for everyone!
North West Health and Care Awards: just four weeks left to nominate
The Learning Matters Challenge!
Just four weeks left to identify innovative people and creative ideas that are transforming healthcare in the North West through asset based approaches.
Learning Matters is a new, regional learning campaign and awards programme led by Voluntary Sector North West (VSNW) - the voluntary sector network for the region. Learning Matters is delivered in partnership with Health Education England (HEE) working across the North West- the workforce development arm of the NHS.
VSNW is looking to recognise and celebrate innovative examples of asset based community development in any healthcare context as part of their commitment to Learning Matters. The Learning Matters campaign partnership straddles the public, private and third sector bringing healthcare people together. It is all about working better together by effectively sharing knowledge and increasing understanding of what works and why.
VSNW is particularly keen to hear about projects and key people who are unlocking talent in our communities. This might include:
- activity which spotlights prevention and self-management agendas through peer support and mentoring; or by creatively promoting health coaching
- shifting power, to patients and the public, by the provision of better information and advice
- activity with a commitment to reduce health inequality and deliver social value
- harnessing or creating digital opportunities.
Warren Escadale, Chief Executive of VSNW, said: “In this category, we’re particularly interested in how nominees are supporting and empowering community-led activity, with the potential to drive health improvement.”
Can you help VSNW to identify key people and key activity which is making a difference to healthcare in the North West so we can tell this story, learn from it and inspire others. Your healthcare stories can be told using any relevant Learning Matters award nomination category See: https://www.vsnw.org.uk/nw-health-awards-2017 Nominations are open until 12 noon on 10 April. So we need you to nominate now!
END
Learning Matters! You tell us why
The search is on for people and projects where individual and organisational learning is driving development and transforming the health and care sector in the North West.
Voluntary Sector North West (VSNW) and Health Education England (HEE) are proud to announce a new joint regional award programme and learning campaign, Learning Matters, to celebrate all kinds of learning across the health and care sector. You can nominate people: colleagues, volunteers or patients where their learning is really making a difference; or projects which are applying learning in any given context. Nominations will showcase the impact of learning on people and organisations in order to inspire others. They will importantly, acknowledge and say thank you to those who go that extra mile. Show your support by taking the time to nominate. Help us tell people why Learning Matters so much to everyone.
This joint campaign led by VSNW, recognises the contribution that adult learning makes to individual, community and economic wellbeing. It will emphasise the importance the awards’ partnership places on the need to develop and harness all talent. It will highlight what can be done to enable the health and care system to support people to have the knowledge, skills and confidence to play an active role in managing their own health; and how to work effectively with communities and their assets. Learning Matters will also demonstrate the fundamental role of learning in reducing health inequalities and how the sector can use leverage to add social value.
Warren Escadale, CEO VSNW said, ’Together with HEE we will be jointly celebrating and promoting Learning Matters because we believe learning is good for people, the sector and the region. But we need your help to identify staff and volunteers, working in and across the whole of the health and care sector, who have been transformed by learning and who can inspire others to give learning a go. We’d also like to hear about projects and activity where learning is shared and it is changing the way we think and what we do in the sector.’
The Learning Matters awards launch on Friday 03 February 2017. They will recognise people and projects in public, voluntary or private sector organisations; in all kinds of job roles not just those with direct care responsibility. This includes those working in an unpaid and volunteer capacity. These awards will reflect the diversity of learning and the range of responsibilities across the whole of the health and care sector. The award categories themselves will include a celebration of the role and value of apprenticeships for all ages. They will highlight important first steps into the sector. They will spotlight regional talent and shout about career development and progression. And they will provide an insight into how people in the sector support each other.
The Learning Matters team is also pleased to announce a number of sponsored awards which will celebrate innovation and regional ingenuity. These awards will have an eye on underlining the importance of supporting new care models, driving adoption of innovation, innovative community asset based development, patient, carer and public engagement, widening participation in healthcare education, prevention, digital health, personalised care and social prescribing. Your nominations will tell us how.
Nominations are open from 03 February until 12 noon on Monday 10 April 2017
For full details on all these awards and how to get nominating simply follow the link below.
VSNW's Conference and AGM 2016: Community Powered Change. Book now
This year's VSNW conference, Community Powered Change, will look at how, in the context of inclusive growth and devolution, communities can be the drivers of transformation. Keynote speakers and panellists include: Professor Ruth Lupton, Head of the Inclusive Growth Analysis Unit, Kathy Evans, Chief Executive of Children England; Cllr Sean Anstee, potential Conservative candidate for Greater Manchester Mayor, Neil McInroy, Chief Executive of CLES, and Cllr Jean Stretton, Inclusive Growth lead for GMCA.
We will be partnering with CLES, Network for Europe, and colleagues from across academia, the public sector, and of course VCSE sector, to deliver workshops along three themes:
- Inclusive Growth: devolution, post-Brexit era social inclusion funding, regeneration in the North West, and measuring social success
- Transforming the Voluntary Sector: Voluntary sector partnerships, the sector’s role in devolution, and investment strategies for the sector
- Health and Social Care: Social Movements for Health, Realising the Value, and Sustainability and Transformation Plans
The conference will take place on the 5th December, from 09.30 - 16.30 at the People's History Museum in Manchester.
Places are limited, so please book using Eventbrite via the following link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/community-powered-change-vsnws-annual-conference-2016-tickets-28721125660
Agenda
9.30am Refreshments and Registration
10.00am Introduction
Chair – Warren Escadale, Chief Executive, VSNW
Keynote speaker: Professor Ruth Lupton, Head of the Inclusive Growth Analysis Unit
Keynote speaker: Jim McMahon MP, Shadow Minister for Communities & Local Government and Devolution (invited)
Q&A with the speakers, Chaired by Debbie Dalby, VSNW Chair
11.00am Morning Workshops
Inclusive Growth for Communities
Economic regeneration in the North West: Matthew Jackson, Centre for Local Economic Strategies
Transforming the voluntary sector
Developing an investment strategy for the voluntary sector: Anne Lythgoe, Salford City Council
Health & Social Care
The sector’s role in Sustainability and Transformation Plans: TBC
12.00pm Lunch, AGM, and Voluntary Action in Action Photo Competition
13.15pm Afternoon Workshops 1
Inclusive Growth for Communities
Measuring social success: Dr Anthony Rafferty, Inclusive Growth Analysis Unit
Transforming the voluntary sector
Building effective voluntary sector partnerships: Representatives from the Cumbria Third Sector Network, GM VCSE Reference Group and Liverpool City Region VS6. Chaired by Warren Escadale
Health & Social Care
Person and Community Centred Care for Wellbeing - Realising the Value: Chris Dabbs, Unlimited Potential and Simon Kweeday, Big Life Group
14.15pm Afternoon Workshops 2
Inclusive Growth for Communities
Funding social inclusion in a Brexit era: Andy Churchill & John Hacking, Network for Europe and Gill Bainbridge, Merseyside Youth Association
Transforming the voluntary sector
The VCSE role in devolution: lessons from Sheffield, Cardiff, Greater Manchester, and Swansea: Dr David Beel, University of Sheffield
Health & Social Care
Social Movements for Health: Ben Gilchrist, VSNW & Action Together & other speaker TBC
15.15pm Afternoon refreshments
15.30pm How will devolution transform communities? Panel discussion
Kathy Evans, Chief Executive of Children England
Cllr Sean Anstee, Conservative candidate for Greater Manchester Mayor
Neil McInroy, Chief Executive of Centre for Local Economic Strategies
Cllr Jean Stretton, GMCA lead for Inclusive Growth
Chair: Warren Escadale, Chief Executive of VSNW
16.20pm Round up and finish
Booking
Places are limited, and if more than one delegate wishes to attend from the same organisation they must book individually. Please book by Wednesday 30th November via the following link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/community-powered-change-vsnws-annual-conference-2016-tickets-28721125660
If you are a VCSE organisation in the North West, the event is free to attend.
If you work for a non-VCSE organization or are an individual, the cost is £50 plus VAT per delegate.
For any queries regarding the conference, please contact Sam Popper on 0161 276 9300 or at sam.popper@vsnw.org.uk.
CQC Inspections in the North West
CQC have announced upcoming hospital inspections for the next year in the North West. Care Quality Commission inspectors will be visiting the following hospitals, on the following dates:
- Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust - 27 September
- The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust - 27 September
- University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust - 11 October
If you have been a patient or visitor to one of these hospitals in the past 12 months, then you are invited to share your experiences. To find out more about the inspections, please click on the relevant inspection above.
You can also share your experiences in a number of other ways:
Visiting CQC website link: www.cqc.org.uk/syemorecambebay
Email: enquiries@cqc.org.uk
Letter: CQC, Citygate, Gallowgate, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4PA
Phone: 03000 61 61 61
EU referendum: Potential implications for the North West
The North West Leaders Board, which comprises of local authority leaders from the region along with other representatives including VSNW Chief Executive Warren Escadale, have issued a report on the implications of leaving the EU for the North West
The North West Leaders Board, which comprises of local authority leaders from the region along with other representatives including VSNW Chief Executive Warren Escadale, have issued a report on the implications of leaving the EU for the North West.
It identifies a number of issues associated with the planned referendum, and the possibility of a vote to leave
the EU, that are of particular relevance to the North West. The report aims to inform debate on this issue in advance of the planned referendum, the outcome of which will have significant implications both nationally and locally. It also includes recommendations for reform should we remain in the EU.
There was also a recent NCVO paper on the referendum which you can find on their website - https://www.ncvo.org.uk/about-us/media-centre/press-releases/1334-ncvo-discussion-paper-explores-implications-of-eu-membership-for-charities?highlight=WyJyZWZlcmVuZHVtIl0=
Review of partnerships and investment in the voluntary sector
The final report of the VCSE Review, Joint review of partnerships and investment in voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations in the health and care sector, has been launched
The final report of the VCSE Review, Joint review of partnerships and investment in voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations in the health and care sector, has been launched. You can access a copy of the report here.
The review has been conducted in partnership between the Department of Health, Public Health England, NHS England and representatives from the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector including Regional Voices, of which VSNW are a member.
The aim of the review was to:
- describe the role of the VCSE sector in improving health, wellbeing and care outcomes
- identify the challenges and opportunities in realising the sector’s potential
- address these challenges and maximise the opportunities
The report makes recommendations for government, health and care system partners, funders, regulatory bodies and the VCSE sector. It emphasises putting wellbeing at the centre of health and care services, and making VCSE organisations an integral part of a collaborative system.
A blog by Alex Fox, the review’s chair, can be found here: blog on the VCSE Review site
Map of European funds by LEP area
The Local Government Chronicle have produced a map of European funding for 2014-20 by LEP area
The Local Government Chronicle have produced a map of European funding for 2014-20 by LEP area.
This shows that the allocated funding for the North West is:
265m euros Lancashire
91m euros Cumbria
414m euros Greater Manchester
221m euros Liverpool City Region
142m euros Cheshire and Warrington
This map is part of an article about the potential impacts of the EU referendum vote on this funding (subscription required) - http://www.lgcplus.com/politics-and-policy/finance/brexit-and-reforms-create-uncertainty-over-european-funding/7004041.article?blocktitle=European-Funding&contentID=23437
VSNW and Compact Voice survey into cross-partnership working
Last summer, we conducted a short survey looking at cross-sector partnership working in the North West, in association with Compact Voice. We are now asking VCS organisations to complete a follow-up survey to assess if the level of partnership engagement has changed
Last summer, we conducted a short survey looking at cross-sector partnership working in the North West, in association with Compact Voice. We are now asking VCS organisations to complete a follow-up survey to assess if the level of partnership engagement has changed.
The five minute survey has seven questions and it will provide us with a valuable insight into the extent to which charities are engaged in the commissioning of public services, and how they are working with different commissioning bodies.
Commissioners include not only local authorities but also newer bodies such as Clinical Commissioning Groups, Police and Crime Commissioners and Local Enterprise Partnerships. The results of the survey will help us to identify the changes to partnerships with these bodies and the continuing support and guidance that is required to further improve their effectiveness.
The survey is available via the following link - https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/KPWVSX5. The deadline for completing the survey is 5pm on Wednesday 6th April.