Coventry Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC) set up a recent workshop, led by Warwick Business School Professor Graeme Currie.
Participants explored how they can act as “knowledge brokers”. This means connecting the right knowledge, people, and evidence at the right time to support better outcomes.
Central to the Research Ambassadors (RA) role is recognising that knowledge comes in many forms. Alongside academic research, frontline experience and lived insight from communities are also equally valuable.
Graeme introduced a practical, structured approach to guide RAs’ work. This includes:
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Identifying priority health challenges affecting Coventry residents
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Aligning their organisation’s strengths with these issues
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Building partnerships with local authority teams and researchers
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Bringing together evidence from multiple sources
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Co-designing and delivering interventions that can make a measurable
Through interactive sessions, organisations reflected on their progress so far, shared challenges such as limited capacity and fragmented working, and identified opportunities for stronger collaboration across the Voluntary, Community, Faith, and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) sector.
They also set out ambitions for the next six months, focusing on achievable actions, strengthening skills and relationships, and embedding research into everyday practice.
The programme highlights the important role VCFSE organisations play in tackling health inequalities. By bringing together research insights, local understanding and community trust, RAs are helping to co-produce solutions that are grounded in real experiences and designed to create lasting change.
Ongoing support, including mentoring, partnership matching with Council teams, and regular check-ins, will help sustain momentum as organisations continue to develop their projects and demonstrate impact over time.