Working Together in Research: Putting Communities at the Centre of Research in South Yorkshire

In this blog, Gemma Ridley, Director of the South Yorkshire Innovation Hub discusses how communities are helping shape a more inclusive approach to research across the region.

In April 2026, around 50 people from across South Yorkshire came together for the Working Together in Research Legacy Event. The event brought together community organisations, charities, NHS colleagues and researchers to reflect on the programme so far and think about what comes next.

At the heart of the programme is a simple but important aim: increasing diverse participation in research.

Working Together in Research, funded by NHS England’s Research Engagement Network, is delivered in partnership between the South Yorkshire Innovation Hub, South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, DiverseCity Development Trust and the National Institute for Health Research. The programme focuses on helping communities play a more active role in shaping research across the region.

Reflecting on the event, what made it so powerful was hearing directly from the people and organisations leading this work in their communities.

Three community-led projects were showcased during the day, each exploring very different experiences and challenges.

United Women Affiliation shared the experiences of underprivileged single mothers from refugee and asylum-seeking communities through a project exploring emotional wellbeing and social inclusion in Sheffield. The work created safe spaces for women to speak openly about isolation, mental health and barriers to accessing support, while helping researchers better understand how trusted community-led conversations can improve engagement and connection.

Reach Up Youth worked with Somali mothers to understand perceptions around autism within their community. The project highlighted growing concerns around autism awareness, gaps in support services and the stigma many families experience. Importantly, the work helped open conversations within the community and identified opportunities to improve communication, culturally appropriate support and trust between families and services.

Steel City Community Consultancy explored the experiences of South Asian women going through menopause. The project found many women had never previously discussed menopause openly, either with healthcare professionals or within their families. Through community-led discussions, participants were able to share experiences of feeling dismissed or unsupported by services, while also highlighting the importance of culturally sensitive information and trusted conversations around women’s health.

Although each project focused on different communities, a common message came through clearly: people are far more likely to engage when research feels personal, trusted and relevant to their lives.

The event highlighted how community-led approaches can create conversations that might not otherwise happen. In one project, a community researcher speaking multiple languages helped participants feel comfortable sharing experiences around mental health, isolation and access to support. In others, researchers recognised that some questions often asked in research settings may feel unfamiliar, sensitive or even inappropriate depending on cultural background.

The programme showed the importance of adapting research approaches to communities, rather than expecting communities to adapt to research systems. The Working Together in Research programme co-designed a set of Guiding Principles supporting researchers and communities to build relationships when conducting research.

A recurring theme throughout the event was trust. Many attendees spoke about how meaningful engagement takes time and relationships. Communities are often described as “hard to reach”, but the discussions challenged that idea. In reality, many communities are ready and willing to engage, they just need to be approached in the right way.

That message feels particularly important for South Yorkshire, where communities from more than 100 countries live across the region. There is huge diversity, but also huge opportunity to ensure research better reflects local experiences and needs.

The breakout discussions during the event focused on what needs to happen next. Conversations highlighted the need for stronger relationships between communities, researchers and healthcare organisations, as well as better support for community researchers and voluntary organisations. There was also a shared feeling that communities should be involved earlier in shaping research, rather than being brought in once decisions have already been made.

The day highlighted the impact of listening differently. Perhaps most importantly, when people feel heard, respected and included, they are ready to engage.

Working Together in Research is helping build a more inclusive approach to research in South Yorkshire, one where communities are not just participants, but partners in shaping conversations about health, wellbeing and innovation. The work will continue into 2026-27, in partnership with DiverseCity Development Trust, the National Institute for Health Research and South Yorkshire ICB.

Please contact sy.innovation@healthinnovationyh.com for further information.