Story of REN
Greater Manchester is proud to be home to diverse communities, and it is important that this diversity is reflected in the health and care research taking place here.
Greater Manchester Research Engagement Network (GM REN) set out to understand the barriers preventing those who are typically underrepresented in research to engage in the process, and then to put measures in place to break down those barriers and make research accessible to all.
GM REN brings together partners from the local health system, research infrastructure and the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) sector.
Together, the network is working to create an inclusive environment that enables diverse communities to take part in health research, addressing health and care inequalities. Collectively, the partners have laid the foundations for an inclusive and sustainable local Research Engagement Network that will continue to grow and adapt with the communities it serves across Greater Manchester.
Illness and diseases which affect the most deprived populations are too often studied in healthier populations. Those most in need and those who would add significantly to our understanding of what works are too often not part of clinical trials and research.
Our Research Engagement activity is addressing that directly and helping ensure our research activities engages all our communities. We are doing this by investing in and learning from the work of the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Sector to build meaningful and trusted partnerships between research teams and communities so those facing the greatest inequalities have a voice in shaping the research that we do.
Warren Heppolette, Chief Officer Strategy and Innovation, NHS GM
Aims of the GM REN
To listen to communities in Greater Manchester to better understand what stops people taking part in research, and how equal partnerships between researchers and the VCFSE sector may enable the most underrepresented communities to have a voice in shaping the research that takes place
Co-produce improved approaches for creative engagement and communication in partnership with VCFSE organisations to build trust and trustworthiness in the research system, with those communities currently more excluded from research.
Develop an improved network-wide system for monitoring and evaluating diverse and inclusive involvement and participation in research within specific areas and communities in Greater Manchester where inequalities are most evident.
Develop and implement sustainable partnerships based on mutual benefit and shared learning between the VCFSE/ community groups and research teams.
To improve the way research organisations, work together to support greater participation in research.