I Am More Than… Building a Community Research Hub

People with lived experience are often left out of conversations and decisions that impact their lives. When we include these voices, research becomes more relevant, empathetic, and effective in driving meaningful change.

We’re excited to enter the fourth phase of the I Am More Than… partnership, working alongside Bournemouth University, The Lantern Trust, The HealthBus, and 11 Founding Members – grassroots charities and community groups committed to shaping inclusive research.

Together, we’re developing a Community Research Hub that will empower more charities and community groups to engage in research and ensure their communities, and the people they support, are heard.

About the Project

Funded by the Clinical Research Network CRN Wessex (now the South-Central Regional Research Delivery Network), I Am More Than… began in October 2023 as part of the Research Engagement Network Programme Cohort 2 (REN2), an NHS England initiative supporting Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) to bring community voices into health and care research.

The project is rooted in the belief that people are more than their circumstances they bring unique stories, strengths, and insights. By amplifying these voices, we aim to make research more accessible and impactful, especially for communities whose perspectives have historically been under-represented.

What’s Happened So Far

• Bournemouth University, The HealthBus, and The Lantern Trust created safe spaces for people with lived experience of homelessness to share their stories.
• These conversations laid the groundwork for research that reflects real needs and builds a model for inclusive research and training.
• We’ve supported charities and community groups by offering webinars, developing training resources, and creating a supportive network.

What’s Next: Phase Four

In this next phase, we’re focusing on co-creating a Community Research Hub with our partners and founding members. This hub will:

• Enable more charities and community groups to participate in research
• Support organisations in amplifying the voices of their communities
• Provide training, resources, and networking opportunities
• Celebrate and share the impact of inclusive research

We’ll continue to host webinars, develop training packages, and grow our virtual hub, a Microsoft Teams Channel, for charities, community groups, academics and system partners to exchange ideas, challenges, and opportunities.

Get Involved

By engaging in I Am More Than…, charities and community groups can shape research that directly benefits their communities. Together, we’re paving the way for more inclusive, informed, and impactful research.

Contact Paul Norton at paul.norton@can100.org  to join the hub or find out more.

Supported by the Centre for Seldom Heard Voices – bringing together academics from across Social Sciences and Social Work to produce high-quality research – and Bournemouth University Public Involvement in Education & Research.