Update on research activities at Catalyst 4 Change

source : Catalyst/Sandra Griffiths

published : February 2025

At Catalyst 4 Change, we’re excited to be working on three research projects alongside Birmingham Voluntary Service Council (BVSC), academics and Flourish. These projects are about community-led and participatory research, where the needs and voices of local people guide everything we do.

Our Partners:

• BVSC: The leading voluntary sector support body in Birmingham, dedicated to ensuring voluntary action thrives and makes a positive difference for everyone in the city.
• Academics: We collaborate with researchers from the University of Birmingham, Newman University and the University of Nottingham to ensure meaningful partnerships and knowledge exchange.
• Flourish: A West Birmingham Community Health Collaborative, a network of third-sector organisations, partnering with the NHS and care providers to address health inequalities.
  

1. Research Better Together (RBT)

RBT is about bringing academics and VCFSE(Voluntary Community Faith and Social Enterprise) organisations together to work on projects that matter to the community. Launched in 2022, RBT helps these collaborations by offering training, mentorship and funding of up to £8,000 to support participatory research activities. Past collaboration worked on topics such as health coaching, domestic violence and making services more accessible to vulnerable groups.

Catalyst 4 Change is involved in the evaluation of the RBT project. However, we will continue to share opportunities to get involved in networking events, training workshops and applying for funding.

2. NHS England Research Engagement Network Programme (REND)

REND is focused on improving diversity in research across Integrated Care Systems. The programme has two main parts:

• Community and Cultural Immersion Programme: This two-day hands-on experience builds cultural humility and addresses biases among healthcare professionals, improving care delivery and trust within Birmingham’s diverse communities.
• REND Conference - April 2025: An event showcasing participatory research methods in health, social care and wellbeing. The conference will feature workshops, presentations and networking sessions to explore innovative methodologies and share good practices in participatory research.

We are looking for people interested in attending and/or showcasing their participatory research. A link to the Eventbrite will be circulated shortly.

3. Community Research Hub

The Community Research Hub will deliver 11 research projects aligned with Birmingham City Council's Public Health priorities. The aim is to build a Hub of  72 Community Researchers to work on the research projects. We intend to create a space of diverse community researchers representative of Birmingham’s population.

Recent projects have explored a variety of crucial issues, such as barriers to employment, long-term headaches within the Pakistani community and health awareness surrounding conditions like HIV and TB. The hub is committed to ensuring inclusive representation and accounting for lived experience by actively recruiting and providing accredited community research training. You can get involved by accessing training opportunities, or letting us know what you think of the research projects.

Catalyst 4 Change is dedicated to driving impactful, community-led research that addresses local needs and fosters long-term partnerships.

Stay connected for more updates on how you can engage with these exciting projects!

If you’d like to get involved or have any questions, please reach out to Amal Anaam (Research & Evaluation Lead) amal.anaam@catalyst4change.org.uk