Local Voices in Research
Valuing Community Knowledge and Experience
Valuable, meaningful knowledge doesn’t just come from Universities. It also exists in our communities through those who live and breath real-world issues, and those who work to support our communities. Collaboratory is working to ensure that local knowledge and expertise plays a direct role in shaping the research we fund.
What is the Local Voices in Research initiative?
Our Local Voices in Research initiative, comprised of Notts’ Voice in Research and Leicester’s Voice in Research, is a Collaboratory initiative that seeks to understand some of the complex challenges that are important to our local communities and how research from our local universities should be shaped to address these. Through Local Voices in Research events, we aim to:
- Work with local residents, local civic and community professionals/community leaders etc., who have knowledge, insight, and experience of our diverse local communities.
- Collaborate with participants in our workshops to develop an informed understanding of what our local communities’ priorities are and how these intersect and overlap.
- Use these mutually agreed priorities to direct the development of new research projects that will be funded and delivered by the Collaboratory research programme in the following year.
Nottinghamshire’s priorities for research for 2026-27
Following our Community Priority Workshop for Notts’ Voice in Research 2026, we’re pleased to be able to share latest priorities for research, as set by members of local Nottingham(shire) communities.
Leicestershire and Rutland’s priorities for research for 2026-27
Following our Community Priority Workshop for Leicester’s’ Voice in Research 2026, we’re pleased to be able to share latest priorities for research, as set by members of local Leicester(shire) and Rutland communities.
How does it work?
There are 3 main stages in the Local Voices in Research agenda each year, all of which are open to local community members and community professionals.
By taking part, you’ll be able to see the whole process through, from the early stages of idea exploration through to the decision making where final projects are chosen and awarded funding.
Month | Activity | Purpose |
March-April | Community Priority Workshops | A series of 3, weekly workshops where you the community identify the people, places, and issues which should be the focus of our next year’s research. |
June | Research Co-Creation Workshop | An afternoon networking event. Meet Nottingham academics and community-focused organisations developing new research together. Help them better understand what our communities need. |
October | Project Selection Panel | An afternoon session with the Co(l)laboratory team. Contribute to discussions about new community-centred research proposals. Help us decide which projects will be funded to begin the following April. |
Who are we looking for?
- Do you want to contribute to positive, meaningful change to the lives of local people?
- Are you a local city or county resident who plays active role in any local community groups, networks, or forums?
- Do you have an in-depth understanding and/or first-hand experience of specific issues that affect Nottingham(shire) or Leicester(shire) and Rutland communities?
- Do you work with members of one or more local communities through the services you deliver at work (NHS, other healthcare, local council, schools, charities, voluntary organisations, etc.)?
If any of the above points describe you, then you’re exactly who we’re looking for!
Ideally, you will be able to commit to attending all 3 Community Priority Workshops, and would be interested in the Co-Creation Workshop and Selection Panel later in the year. We know that these events take place over a relatively long stretch of time, so we only ask you to sign up for Community Priority Workshops initially. We will then keep in touch with you too confirm your availability later in the year for our other events.
NOTE: You will not be eligible to take part in the latest round of events if you were involved the previous year. This is to ensure that more people have the chance to participate and that we’re able to explore of as many different aspects of life and community as possible.
What do you get?
- You will receive a payment of £25 per event that you attend, to compensate you for your time and efforts.
- You will join a group of like-minded, passionate, and motivated individuals who want to see more people and organisations in Nottingham work together to make positive change for our communities.
- You will have the opportunity to help shape real university research projects which are set to begin in April 2026.
- You will be given exclusive access to Collaboratory’s pioneering research skills workshop series, developed specifically for local professionals working in community and civic settings. The series is designed equip you with leading research skills and techniques that you can use to address challenges in your own organisations, and to support your own future ambitions.