“Notts’ Voice in Research” Workshop
What is it?
The “Notts’ Voice in Research” is a Collaboratory Research Hub 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.
Aims of “Notts Voice Research”
- Work with local residents, community professionals and community leaders, etc., who have knowledge, insight, and experience of Nottingham City’s diverse communities.
- Collaborate with these people, through our workshops, to develop an informed understanding of what the Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire communities’ priorities are and how these intersect and overlap.
- Use these mutually agreed priorities to direct the development of up to 15 new research projects that will be funded and delivered by the Collaboratory Research Hub programme, starting in April 2027.
Our 2025 Notts Voice in Research series saw 32 local participants work with us to identify 6 specific priority themes (from 244 individual responses) upon which to focus our latest round of research projects, based on their experience and the experience of the people they support.
Find out more about our 2025 identified research priorities in Nottinghamshire
Who are we looking for?
We are looking for new, passionate, and motivated people to help us understand some of the complex challenges facing our local communities. This year’s workshop will take place on 27th March 2026 at the Nottingham Central Library.
We’re looking for people who have an in-depth understanding of one or more issues that affect communities in the City and County to join our initiative and collaborate with their local universities.
- Do you work with members of the local community through the services you deliver at work (NHS, other healthcare, local council, schools, charities, voluntary organisations, etc.)?
- Are you a Nottingham City or Nottinghamshire resident who plays an active role in any local community groups, networks, or forums?
- Are you a Nottingham City or Nottinghamshire resident who has in-depth, firsthand experience of complex challenges that you feel are a priority for other local communities?
If any of the above points describe you, then you’re exactly who we’re looking for!
After the success of our 2024 and 2025 Notts’ Voice in Research workshops, for 2026 we’re particularly interested in hearing from professionals working in or people connected to employability, secondary education (mainstream and alternative), and those who work with one or more minority groups.
What will you get out of it?
- You will receive a £30 Love2Shop voucher for each activity you attend to compensate you for your time and effort.
- You will join a group of like-minded, passionate, and motivated individuals who want to see more 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 will begin in April 2027
NB: Please note that if you took part in any of our 2025 workshops, you are not eligible to participate in this year’s workshop. This is to ensure more people have the opportunity to take part.
Key Events and Dates
- Community Priorities workshop (light refreshments provided).
Venue: Rooms 6&7, Nottingham Central Library,1 Carrington Street, Nottingham NG1 7FH
Time: 12:30-3:00 pm
Our Community Priorities workshop is the most important part of the Notts’ Voice in Research Process! Here, in conversation with other attendees, you will be guided through the topics below as you collectively build a picture of the challenges and issues that are a priority for our communities:
- What is research and what change can it make?
- Defining our communities
- Exploring the challenges our communities face
- Making connections between people, place, and challenge
- Research Project Co-Creation Event
After you’ve helped us to identify priorities for the community, you’ll be invited to join our co-creation event where Nottingham researchers and professionals from local community-focused organisations come together to explore these priorities, and design new research projects to address them.
- Wednesday 17th June, 1pm-4pm, TBC
- Research Project Selection Panel
Once we’ve received proposals for new research to tackle your community priorities, we need your help to decide which ones will be funded.
- Wednesday 23rd September, 1pm-4pm
Who is involved?
The “Notts’ Voice in Research” initiative has been developed by the Collaboratory Research Hub team, based at Nottingham Trent University, in association with the Universities for Nottingham Partnership and Leicestershire Universities Partnership.