REN - The creation of a Research Engagement Network

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Mid and South Essex ICB, all our main hospitals and members of the community assembly are working on a project to set up a Research Engagement Network.

Once created this network will help researchers provide a better service for underserved groups.


Characteristics which are common to several of these groups include:

  • Lower inclusion in research than expected.
  • Higher healthcare burden unmatched by research designed for such groups.
  • Differences in how they engage with healthcare interventions compared to other groups.

Groups that we are keen to work with are -

  • Age extremes – under 25’s or over 65
  • Women of childbearing age
  • Ethnically diverse groups including, Faith groups, Gypsy, Roma travellers
  • LGBTQ+
  • Groups of people who suffer from health inequalities including, those with learning disabilities or a serious mental illness.
  • Those people who are Neuro divergent


This project aims to work with partner organisations in order to develop their local research activities with underrepresented communities. It involves increasing diversity in research and supporting the diverse local communities to get involved in research.


Research Ready Communities: an innovative approach to inclusion in research

Our plan

Make sure health and social care research better reflects the needs and interests of all areas, groups and communities across the country. As a result, we will be better able to address health inequalities.

Programme aims:

  • Build trusting, mutually beneficial relationships with the community.
  • Listen to and understand the community better.
  • Work in partnership with community members and organisations to make research more inclusive and representative.

How we will achieve our goals

  1. Partner with local organisations
  2. Work with partner organisations to find and train community members as Community Champions
  3. Support Community Champions to listen to people in the community about their knowledge and views of health and social care research.
  4. Co-design local activities that respond to what people have said, and that will help improve local inclusion in health and social care research.
  5. Implement co-designed local activities together.
  6. Continue long-term partnership to build inclusive research for the community.

REN Next Phase

Our REN project seeks to foster inclusive and diverse participation in health and social care research. Our future approach involves expanding our reach to more underrepresented communities, understanding their needs, and co-developing solutions to increase their involvement in research activities.

Key communities we want to engage within the next phase are -

  • Jewish – Including a Hasidic community.

  • Chinese

  • Eastern European

  • GRT groups

  • Expand our LGBTQ+ reach

  • Incorporate our COPD connectors into REN – linking to specific conditions not just specific community groups

  • Look at barriers guided by characteristics such as age and gender

Follow this page if you want to keep in touch about health and care research and the REN project

Mid and South Essex ICB, all our main hospitals and members of the community assembly are working on a project to set up a Research Engagement Network.

Once created this network will help researchers provide a better service for underserved groups.


Characteristics which are common to several of these groups include:

  • Lower inclusion in research than expected.
  • Higher healthcare burden unmatched by research designed for such groups.
  • Differences in how they engage with healthcare interventions compared to other groups.

Groups that we are keen to work with are -

  • Age extremes – under 25’s or over 65
  • Women of childbearing age
  • Ethnically diverse groups including, Faith groups, Gypsy, Roma travellers
  • LGBTQ+
  • Groups of people who suffer from health inequalities including, those with learning disabilities or a serious mental illness.
  • Those people who are Neuro divergent


This project aims to work with partner organisations in order to develop their local research activities with underrepresented communities. It involves increasing diversity in research and supporting the diverse local communities to get involved in research.


Research Ready Communities: an innovative approach to inclusion in research

Our plan

Make sure health and social care research better reflects the needs and interests of all areas, groups and communities across the country. As a result, we will be better able to address health inequalities.

Programme aims:

  • Build trusting, mutually beneficial relationships with the community.
  • Listen to and understand the community better.
  • Work in partnership with community members and organisations to make research more inclusive and representative.

How we will achieve our goals

  1. Partner with local organisations
  2. Work with partner organisations to find and train community members as Community Champions
  3. Support Community Champions to listen to people in the community about their knowledge and views of health and social care research.
  4. Co-design local activities that respond to what people have said, and that will help improve local inclusion in health and social care research.
  5. Implement co-designed local activities together.
  6. Continue long-term partnership to build inclusive research for the community.

REN Next Phase

Our REN project seeks to foster inclusive and diverse participation in health and social care research. Our future approach involves expanding our reach to more underrepresented communities, understanding their needs, and co-developing solutions to increase their involvement in research activities.

Key communities we want to engage within the next phase are -

  • Jewish – Including a Hasidic community.

  • Chinese

  • Eastern European

  • GRT groups

  • Expand our LGBTQ+ reach

  • Incorporate our COPD connectors into REN – linking to specific conditions not just specific community groups

  • Look at barriers guided by characteristics such as age and gender

Follow this page if you want to keep in touch about health and care research and the REN project

  • NHS Change: Help to make a better health service for the future!

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    The NHS has been there for us for over 76 years, but to make sure it’s here for the next 76 years, doing all it can to support the health of everyone, we need your help!

    The Government has launched ‘Change NHS’ a 10 year plan, which is part of the government’s health mission to build a health service fit for future.

    We want to hear your views, experiences and ideas to help to shape the 10 year plan for England.

    The plan will set out how we will deliver an NHS fit for the future, creating a truly modern health service designed to meet the changing needs of our changing population. The government will co-develop the plan with the public, staff and patients through a detailed engagement exercise.

    This will be focused on the three shifts that the Government, health service, and experts agree need to happen and these include:

    • moving care from hospitals to communities
    • making better use of technology
    • focussing on preventing sickness, not just treating it

    If you would like to participate and give your views and ideas, please register to join any of our ‘on-line’ focus groups events we are running to capture the views of people across mid and south Essex.

    To register, please click on the date and time that is convenient for you:

    https://www.midandsouthessex.ics.nhs.uk/events/nhs-change-10-year-plan-focus-group-2/

    When you have registered, you will be emailed a link to join the focus group event.

  • REN: Inclusive Research - Creating and Sharing Best Practice

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    Inclusive Research Event: A Huge Success

    We are pleased to share that the Inclusive Research - Creating and Sharing Best Practice event, held on December 10th, 2024, at ARU Chelmsford Campus, was a resounding success. The event brought together a diverse group of researchers from a wide range of organisations, including Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) and other key local researchers, who gathered to explore innovative strategies for making research design and participation more inclusive.

    Key Highlights:

    • A Collaborative Gathering: The event provided a unique platform for researchers, both local and regional, to collaborate, exchange ideas, and discuss the future of inclusive research across the East of England.

    • Exploring a Research Repository: One of the key discussions revolved around the creation of a central repository to store and share research materials, outcomes, projects, and opportunities. This would facilitate better access and collaboration, fostering a more inclusive approach to research.

    • Addressing Barriers in Research: Throughout the event, important conversations took place regarding the barriers to research faced both by researchers and participants. A range of views was shared to better understand these challenges, particularly around engaging marginalised and underrepresented communities in research studies.

    • Interactive Workshops & Idea Generation: Attendees participated in a series of interactive workshops where they had the opportunity to map out assets, bridge information gaps, and collaborate on solutions to promote inclusivity in research. The event was designed to ensure that participants left with actionable insights and a strengthened network of like-minded professionals dedicated to driving change in research practices.

    The discussions and activities from this event have set the stage for continued collaboration and the development of a sustainable network of researchers, research champions, and community stakeholders. We look forward to seeing the positive outcomes of this gathering unfold and are excited about the next steps in promoting inclusive research practices across our region.

    We extend our thanks to all those who attended and contributed to making this event a success. We encourage all attendees to continue engaging with one another as we work together to break down barriers and create new opportunities for inclusive research.

    Stay tuned for updates and further opportunities to be involved in the ongoing development of inclusive research initiatives.

  • REN Project Learning Event

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    The event was a huge success, we had over 30 attendees comprising of community champions, Primary care Network researchers, researchers from ARU and some non-exec members form the ICB. The event saw community champions presenting the outstanding outcomes they've achieved since joining the REN project, highlighting the real-world impact of their work.

    The event was opened with an introduction by Tom Abell, Chief Executive Officer of MSE ICB, and we also heard from Dr. James Hickling, Deputy Medical Director, who gave an insightful presentation. Their contributions set the tone for a truly engaging and impactful day.

    It was inspiring to hear how their efforts are making a positive difference. Additionally, researchers in the room shared the wonderful collaborations they’ve had with the REN champions and provided valuable insights into future research opportunities for continued engagement. The event was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the power of collaboration between the REN community and the research sector.

    We were also privileged to also have Dr. Sophia Morris, the System Clinical Lead for Health Inequalities, join us. She spoke powerfully about the impact of health inequalities on marginalised groups and shared valuable resources and opportunities to further support our community champions in their work. Her insights were incredibly well-received and reinforced the importance of tackling health disparities through collaboration and engagement.


  • MSE Winter Vaccination Road Show

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    Bringing healthcare closer to our communities: NHS Mid and South Essex launches winter vaccination bus 🚌

    Last year, nearly 60% of eligible residents in mid and south Essex received their flu vaccination. This year, we’re going even further to ensure even more people are protected.

    Our community vaccination bus will be visiting towns across the region, offering flu and COVID-19 vaccinations, as well as free blood pressure checks for adults over 40. Healthcare teams onboard will provide expert advice, administer vaccinations, and signpost residents to further care when needed.

    The towns selected are areas with historically low vaccination uptake and higher health inequalities. By engaging directly with local communities, we’re raising awareness of the importance of winter vaccinations and offering immediate vaccination at the point of conversation. This approach is key to increasing uptake and protecting the most vulnerable as we approach winter.

    The vaccination bus schedule:
    - Tesco Extra, Mayflower Retail Park, Basildon – Tuesday, 15 October (9am-5pm)
    - Morrisons, Southend-on-Sea – Wednesday, 16 October (9am-5pm)
    - Grays High Street – Thursday, 17 October (9am-5pm)
    - Morrisons, Northwick Road, Canvey Island – Friday, 18 October (9am-5pm)

    By bringing healthcare directly to our communities, we’re supporting public health and helping to prevent winter illnesses.

    #PublicHealth #WinterVaccinations #HealthcareProfessionals #CommunityHealth

  • Introducing the REN Community Champion Training

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    Introducing the REN Community Champion Training

    Health and care research is essential for understanding and improving healthcare practices. It helps uncover new insights into diseases, their causes, and potential treatments, informing the health advice and treatments we receive. This research is crucial in advancing healthcare practices, improving patient care, and developing new treatments.

    The REN (Research Engagement Network) project aims to make health and care research more inclusive by improving access to research opportunities for diverse communities in Mid and South Essex. By training and supporting community champions, the REN project helps local communities understand the benefits of health research and how to get involved.

    Community champions are trained to engage with their communities, gather insights on health and care research views, and identify local information sources. They work with community organisations, leaders, and services to improve access to health and care research. This collaboration ensures that people have better access to research opportunities and are informed about health and care research activities.

    The NIHR Clinical Research Network, established by the Department of Health and Social Care, supports this initiative. The network funds research staff, equipment, and facilities, ensuring that research is conducted without diverting funds from health and care services.

    The REN project provides free training for community champions, equipping them with the skills needed to promote health and care research in their communities. Champions conduct workshops and interviews, expanding the project’s reach and sharing their findings.

    Community partner organisations play a crucial role by supporting the REN project, hosting workshops, and developing action plans to increase research access. This collective effort aims to address health inequalities and ensure that research represents diverse populations.

    Join us in making a positive change. For more information on how to get involved, email mseics.getinvolved@nhs.net. Together, we can improve access to health research and contribute to better health outcomes for all.

Page last updated: 06 Feb 2025, 12:31 PM