Birmingham & Solihull Community Hub for Involvement in Research Practice (CHIRP): Improvement & Innovation Strategic Funding Bids 2023/2024 Final Report

It is recognised that many communities are underserved by research and there are challenges to engaging with these communities and Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) sector. Our primary aim was to address the NIHR strategic issue to increase local engagement of underserved communities in research. We have previously identified inconsistencies in practice, resources in community engagement and public involvement, emphasised by a lack of coordination to engagement across NIHR and research organisations in the West Midlands. Together with Birmingham Voluntary Service Council (BVSC) we set to co-create a Community Engagement and Involvement Hub to support communities and researchers to develop research partnerships, enable all communities the opportunity to be engaged in research, and ensure research is designed to meet the needs and priorities of the local population. Involving VCSFE organisations was central to the co-creation, building upon previous activity and engagement with regional NIHR infrastructure, public contributors and PPIE leads that formed the initial strategic aims for the Hub (funded by NIHR Centre for Engagement and Dissemination).