Training

Health Determinants Research Collaboration Coventry Webinars

The HDRC team coordinates a monthly series of online talks, so-called webinars, on a range of research topics,. We talk about building blocks of a healthy Coventry, the different types of research methods, how to involve the public in research, and real-life examples of research that has been applied and has had an impact on people's life.

Previous webinar recordings are available on our YouTube Channel.

Facing changes with extreme weather events due to Climate Change - how will it affect us and what do we need to do?

Speaker: Bret Willers (Coventry City Counci)

Date: 9 of December 2025, 12 - 1 pm

This webinar explores the multifaceted impact of extreme weather events on public health, service delivery and community resilience. Drawing on local experiences in Coventry and Birmingham, the session emphasises the urgent need for us to adapt, improve our resilience, and manage the demands placed on our emergency response activities. The webinar challenges public perceptions, showcases collaborative efforts across neighbouring areas and emphasises the importance of proactive, inclusive approaches to climate resilience. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the health risks, economic costs and policy considerations associated with climate adaptation, as well as how they can contribute to building more resilient communities. The webinar aims to be thought-provoking and interactive. 

Find out more and register for this webinar.

Developing an inclusive health and care research system with people from Black Communities in the UK: a realist evaluation

Speaker: Eleanor Hoverd (University of Oxford)

Date: 15 of December 2025, 12 - 1 pm

Black people have worse health than white people. This is why people from Black communities must be included in health and care research. This ensures that their needs are understood and their health can be improved. But research shows that not enough people from black communities are included in health and care research. The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is working hard to improve this situation. A lot of the earlier research has looked at how Black people take part in health and care research on an individual level. But there is not enough research and evidence that has looked into how people with different backgrounds can be included and encouraged to participate in the health and care research system at a structural level. 

This webinar will present the results of a study that was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, or NIHR for short. The study looked at how well people from Black communities in the UK are included in and take part in health and care research. 

Find out more and register for this webinar.

An introduction to NIHR Funding

Recording link: Coventry HDRC Lunchtime webinar: A brief Introduction to NIHR Funding - YouTube

Coventry HDRC annual webinar: stronger together - our communities shaping research

Recording link: Stronger together - our communities shaping research

Utilising reviews to support evidence-based decision making

Speaker: Cameron Ley (Coventry HDRC)

Recording link: Utilising reviews to support evidence-based decision making

Research-Driven Change: Understanding ‘Research Impact’ expectations on academics, and how these can align with HDRC stakeholder goals

Speaker: Jamie Beckett (Coventry University)

Recording link: Research-Driven Change: Understanding ‘Research Impact’ expectations on academics, and how these can align with HDRC stakeholder goals

Getting the most out of social value measurement

Speaker: Haley Beer (Warwick Business School)
Recording link: Getting the most out of social value measurement

Digital Inclusion as a wider determinant of health

Presented by Laura Waller (Coventry City Council)
Recording link: Digital Inclusion as a wider determinant of health

Quantitative research: How to read quantitative papers and use research to help inform decision-making, policy, and practice

Speaker: Chloe Ryder (Coventry City Council)
Recording link: Quantitative research: How to read quantitative papers and use research to help inform decision-making, policy, and practice

How Family Hubs and Early Education Shape a Child’s Best Start in Life, Lessons from Coventry

Presented by Amanda King (Coventry City Council)
Recording link: How Family Hubs and Early Education Shape a Child’s Best Start in Life, Lessons from Coventry

Understanding Coventry’s Joint Strategic Needs Assessment

Presented by Niamh Mellor (Coventry City Council)
Recording link: Understanding Coventry’s Joint Strategic Needs Assessment

Coventry-Based Training Opportunities

If you live or work in Coventry, we have lots of other opportunities to find out more about research.

We run a monthly “So What?” journal club that brings people together online to talk about a research study, discuss the findings and methods, and work out what it might mean for our work.

We also run hands-on training courses for people looking to learn about research and become community researchers. Attendees put into practice what they have learnt by carrying out a local research project and are supported by experienced researchers at each stage. A celebration event after each course helps to share the findings with the people who need to know.

More information about these opportunities, and others, are shared in our monthly newsletter, so sign up or get in touch! 

Online Courses

The HDRC recommends a range of free resources below to help you develop knowledge and skills in research and evaluation.

Open University

The Open University offers free, self-guided online courses covering research, data, and evidence. Some resources developed are shared below:

•  Exploring data: graphs and numerical summaries (20-hour self-guided course, introductory level)
•  Using data to aid organisational change (10-hour self-guided course, intermediate level)
•  Understanding research with children and young people (16-hour self-guided course, intermediate level)
•  The power of infographics in research dissemination (7-hour self-guided course, intermediate level)
•  Becoming an ethical researcher (18-hour self-guided course, advanced level)
•  Quantitative and qualitative research in finance (10-hour self-guided course, advanced level)

National Institute of Health and Care Research

The National Institute of Health and Care Research (NHIR) are the UK's largest health and care research funder. Some resources developed by NIHR organisations are shared below:

•  What are Health Determinants Research Collaborations? (short video)
•  Introduction to cultural competence in research (10-minute video)
•  Toolkit for conducting Equality Impact Assessments in Research (written guide)

National Centre for Research Methods

The National Centre for Research Methods hosts a range of resources about the different methods that can be used to carry out research. Included in their resources are a range of podcasts and online resources, some of which are shared below:

•  Selection of short podcasts about research
•  What is inclusive research? (podcast)

The NCRM also deliver in-person and online training workshops on various research methods.

Future Learn – Starting Out in Health and Social Care Research 

This online course, hosted on Future Learn, was designed by universities and the NHS. It is a step-by-step introductory course covering every stage of the research process, from developing a research idea and finding research funding to involving the public and sharing research findings. 

This course takes around 2 hours per week for 8 weeks and is free to complete. Some groups are eligible for a free upgrade, meaning you can complete it as quickly or slowly as you like. These groups include NHS and local authority employees and charities that provide NHS or social care services. 

You can find further information and register on the website. You can register on another page if you are eligible for the free upgrade. 

Cochrane - Involving the public in research

Cochrane offers free training videos about how to involve members of the public throughout the whole research process.

Key videos of interest may include:

• Patient and public involvement in research: What, why and how? 
• Co-Production in action
• Setting research priorities with members of the public
• No choice of outcomes about us without us!

Feedback

If you decide to visit and engage with any of these courses, we welcome your views on whether you found them helpful or not. If you need any assistance accessing any of the above, please contact the team by email at CoventryHDRC@coventry.gov.uk.