The NHS South West London Integrated Care Board (NHS SWL ICB) is looking to set up two Research Engagement Hubs in Croydon!
For the past four years, the SWL ICB had received funding from NHS England's Research Engagement Network to increase inclusion and diversity in public involvement and participation in research. In South West London they focused on research cafes and setting up the SWL Research Support Network. Listening to their communities, they learned that people want more prolonged engagement on research. This year, they hope to replace the cafes with local community Research Engagement Hubs.
Research Engagement Hubs will build on the success of the research cafe approach, creating trusted, informal local spaces where conversations about research can happen naturally over a cup of tea or coffee. They hope that in the hubs, residents, researchers and community organisations can come together to grow research literacy and identify the opportunities for working together.
They have one off set-up funding of up to £7,000 per hub for 6 months in 2026/27. Successful organisations will benefit from ongoing support to develop future projects, collaborate on funding bids and secure additional funding to sustain and grow Research Engagement Hub activities.
Find out more information here.
An information session where you can ask questions will take place on Thursday 3rd September between 3.30-4.30pm
To apply, please complete the Expression of Interest by 23:59 on 11th September and send it to: SWLICB-HIT@swlondon.nhs.uk
Informal conversations will take place the week commencing 14th September with shortlisted applicants and successful applicants will be informed by the week commencing 20th September 2026.