Lincolnshire Research Network

Why the Lincolnshire Research Network matters

Many communities don’t see research as something relevant to them, or something they can influence. Some people have had poor experiences in the past, where research felt extractive, confusing or led nowhere.

LRN exists to:

• Build confidence and understanding around research
• Create clearer, fairer routes into research
• Support communities and organisations to engage on their own terms
• Help researchers work better with communities
• Reduce duplication and “research fatigue”

This work takes time – and relationships sit at the centre of it.

A shared partnership approach

LRN in Lincolnshire brings together people and organisations from across voluntary, community and statutory sectors, alongside academic and research partners.

Rather than working in silos, we come together through a shared steering group to:

• Agree priorities
• Test ideas
• Learn from what doesn’t work as well as what does
• Keep communities at the heart of research activity

We’re also working as part of the DLN cluster for the national REN programme, sharing learning and approaches with neighbouring areas and contributing to wider system change beyond Lincolnshire.

Research Champions

Could your organisation lead a county-wide network to increase participation in health and care research across Lincolnshire?

The Lincolnshire Research Network (LRN) is inviting expressions of interest from organisations to lead and develop a new county-wide Research Champion Network, with £40,000 available for a six-month programme starting in October 2026.

Research helps improve health and care services, but many communities still have limited opportunities to get involved in clinical research or influence the work that affects them. We want to help change that by working with people and organisations who already have trusted relationships in their communities.

What would your organisation do? 

Working alongside the LRN Steering Group, you would bring together partner organisations across Lincolnshire to identify and support paid Research Champions within their communities and existing networks.

Together, you would help people understand health and care research, including clinical studies, find opportunities to get involved and share their experiences and priorities to help shape future research.

The lead role would include:

• Building and coordinating the network of partner organisations and Research Champions.
• Coordinating and organising training and ongoing support.
• Strengthening links between communities, researchers and health and care partners.
• Sharing learning and demonstrating the difference the network makes.

This is an opportunity to build on your organisation’s relationships and experience, support communities underrepresented in clinical research and help establish a network with value beyond the initial programme.

How would the funding work?

The £40,000 covers the whole programme. The suggested allocation is:

• £12,000 for lead organisation coordination, including its management fee.
• £26,000 for Research Champions.
• £2,000 for network development and shared learning.

This allocation is a guide, and organisations can propose a different approach where it would better achieve the programme’s aims.

The programme aims to increase awareness of health and care research, including NIHR portfolio studies, so that communities and organisations across Lincolnshire can better understand research and the opportunities available to get involved.

Interested in leading the network?

We’d like to hear about your experience of bringing organisations together, your understanding of research and how you would develop an inclusive network across Lincolnshire.

View the full opportunity and Expression of Interest questions

Please submit your expression of interest to Emily Ward at Emily.Ward@lvet.org by Monday 28th September 2026.

If you’d like a conversation before applying, please contact hello@lvet.org. Please also share this opportunity with organisations you think may be interested.

Making it easier to connect: the Lincolnshire research platform

We’ve consistently heard that it’s hard for voluntary and community organisations and researchers to find each other, understand mutual expectations, and know where to start.

In response, we’re developing a Lincolnshire‑specific digital platform designed to:

• Help organisations and researchers connect around shared interests
• Create clearer routes for involvement in research
• Reduce the burden on community organisations
• Support more transparent, equitable collaboration

The platform is almost live, having been shaped with partners in the development.

Supporting community involvement in research

Previous phases of REN funding supported community‑led research through small grants and mentoring. That work showed the value of:

• Investing in relationships
• Supporting confidence and skills
• Giving communities time and space to shape research questions

While small grants were a previous activity, the learning from that work continues to shape how REN supports community involvement and influences future approaches.

Raising awareness and understanding

Research won’t feel relevant unless people see it, understand it and can relate it to everyday life.

Across Lincolnshire, we’ve tested different ways of sharing information about research, including:

• Face‑to‑face conversations in community settings
• Printed materials in places people already visit
• Digital communications and newsletters

This has helped us understand what works best for different communities – and where more work is still needed.

The Lincolnshire Research Charter

Alongside the LRN programme, partners have worked together to co‑produce the Lincolnshire Research Charter.

The Charter is a shared agreement between people and researchers about what everyone should expect when taking part in research. It focuses on:

• Respect, fairness and transparency
• Building trust between communities and researchers
• Creating consistency in how research is experienced

Developed with communities, researchers and organisations, the Charter is designed to be a practical, living document – not something that sits on a shelf. It supports people to feel confident about getting involved, and helps researchers understand how to work well with communities throughout the research journey.

The principles of the Charter will also underpin the Lincolnshire research platform as it develops.

What happens next?

Looking ahead, REN partners are focused on:

• Embedding inclusive research engagement as business as usual
• Supporting sustainable ways for communities and researchers to connect
• Promoting the Research Charter and its use in practice
• Continuing to learn and share what works through the DLN cluster and beyond